BIDDEFORD — The sight of nearly 30 Lady Tigers prowling between the boards of the Biddeford Ice Arena at each practice is a heartwarming picture for the team’s coach Marie Potvin.
But while there may be safety in numbers, less certain is what experience ”“ or lack of it ”“ will mean for the Tigers, who embark on their fourth varsity season tonight against Portland-Deering.
Biddeford comes in with one of the largest contingents out of the 18 girls hockey teams in Maine, but also with one of its youngest, sporting just three seasoned seniors.
And that makes this year one full of promise.
“We don’t have the experience we’ve had in the past,” said Potvin, who began the spadework for girls hockey years ago at the middle school level. “We’re young defensively, and we’ll see what happens. We’re counting on everybody to do their job.”
Senior goaltender Emily Brassley echoed the thought.
“It’s pretty exciting,” she said, “having all these new freshmen and sophomores come out.”
Brassley, who played goalie last year, will likely see plenty of shots as the youthful defense seeks to steady itself throughout the year.
“I’ll take one shot at a time,” she said. “Even if it mounts up to 50.”
Brassley spent a week during the summer at the camp sponsored by two-time Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, who was fresh from the Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup win.
She said what she learned at camp should help her plenty.
“It was pretty fun,” said Brassley. “A lot of guys shooting on me. Sometimes four of them at once. That helped me a lot.”
Brassley said she picked up some tips from Thomas through a Skype session.
“I asked him what he did to prepare for game days,” she said. “He told me that as long as he has an off day, he has a good game.”
How to fend off an attacking forward with her blocker, or when to challenge the opposing goalie should an “unpleasantness” break out occur, was not in the lesson plan.
Presumably, the combative Thomas kept those tricks of the trade to himself.
Even so, said Potvin, Brassley brings her own brand of competitiveness to the crease.
“She’s a great kid with a great attitude, and a hard worker,” said Potvin. “She’s got a very young defense in front of her. A sophomore, a junior and two freshmen.”
The remaining Tigers’ senior co-captains are both forwards, Jenna Roy and Victoria Eon.
Both will be counted on for offensive production.
Even with the lingering question marks, Potvin said she feels that the Tigers could remain in the fight all the way to the end.
“I don’t know what everybody else has got,” said Potvin. “But we’re expecting to compete for a playoff spot, and we’re expecting to compete in every single game.” Brassley was in full agreement.
“I think we should be all right, if we just have confidence in ourselves,” she said.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535.
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