BIDDEFORD — No drama this time. No double overtime, either. Just a solid show of muscle by Thornton Academy that netted the defending state champs a 4-1 win over Lewiston on Wednesday at Biddeford Ice Arena.
C.J. Maksut, whose electrifying goal against the Blue Devils gave Thornton the title when the teams last met in March, popped in two more to pace the Golden Trojan attack.
The twin tallies gave the speedy senior 100 points (63 goals, 37 assists) for his stellar Thornton career.
“It’s cool,” said Maksut. “But I’ve had some great players around me. That helps make it easier for me.”
Easy, too, for the Trojans (2-0) to come into the championship game rematch as highly motivated as they were when the title was actually on the line.
“For them (the Blue Devils) this was a revenge game,” said top line center Rob Downing. “But for us, this was a game to show we were a dominant team. To show we can compete with anyone, and show who we really are as a team.”
It took Thornton less than a minute to offer proof of that.
Handed an early power play, Maksut potted his first goal of the night just 41 seconds into the contest.
“(Bryan) Dallaire got it over to me,” said Maksut, “and I saw that I had some space. I just let it go.”
Downing, who began the play by getting a key, face-off win, said that grabbing the lead that quickly provided a huge psychological lift.
“Putting up goals early,” said Downing, “really helps as a team. If you’re up early, you can flow.”
Lewiston’s Matt Poulin replied at 8:39, with a tip in of Shawn O’Connell’s screen shot from the right circle.
However, just 26 seconds later, Andrew Carignan restored the Trojan lead, 2-1, with his shot from close range, while line mate Greg Lodge set up a screen in front of Blue Devils goalie Evan Bourassa.
Lewiston pressed hard in the second stanza, but was held at bay by Thornton goalie Joe Ferrante, who made several clutch stops. Among them were two in succession off Brandon Tiner and Patrick DeBlois.
“He kept us in the game,” said Maksut. “If they put a couple in, it could have been a whole different game.”
Then, the Trojans seized control of the contest with goals 31 seconds apart by Downing and Maksut.
Downing’s came at 11:49, when he tipped in Drew Lavigne’s point shot to make it 3-1.
Maksut followed soon after with the goal that gained him entry into Thornton’s “Century Club”.
“I want to play all around as a team player,” said Maksut. “But I want to contribute to the offense as much as possible. I feel like I can be a part of that.”
The three-goal margin held through the final period, although Trojan penalty killers were put to a stiff test by having to quash a series of four penalties in the final 9:43.
“We pride ourselves on our special teams,” said Thornton coach Jamie Gagnon. “And our penalty kill is something we work on quite a bit. High school hockey is a lot of power plays and penalty kills. Getting an early power play goal, then killing off a string of penalties proved to be the difference in the game.”
The Trojans will take the ice again Saturday at Waterville.
— Contact Staff Writer Dan Hickling at 282-1535 or follow him on Twitter @DanHickling.
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