BIDDEFORD — It’s what you learn in Hockey 101: Keep the feet moving, something good might happen.
Kennebunk took that truth to heart and skated off with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Class B Cape Elizabeth Monday at Biddeford Ice Arena.
Newly installed linemates Ned Richard and Bryce Fraser scored two goals each to help the Class A Rams improve to 5-2, which represents their best start in three years.
“It was great,” said Richard, one of nine seniors in the Kennebunk lineup. “We were going hard, having a good time. It’s good to get the win.”
Fellow senior co-captain Jack Kennedy agreed.
“We got off to a good start,” Kennedy said. “We started off hard and continued it for three periods.”
The Rams led from the 2:41 mark on, thanks in large part to Fraser’s first goal, and to solid goaltending from freshman Michael Leblanc.
Fraser’s goal came during a Kennebunk power play after he popped in his own rebound.
The Capers replied with a strong stand of sustained pressure, during which they pelted Leblanc with half a dozen skill-testing shots.
The first-year player, however, stood up to each of those, as eight Capers fired shots.
Richard doubled the lead to 2-0 at 13:15, when he followed up his shot and netted his first of the night.
“Everyone was excited,” said Kennedy. “It was easy to keep the good feeling going. We just made sure to forecheck hard and play good defense.”
Even so, Cape Elizabeth, the top team in Western Maine Class B, wasn’t about to roll over for the Rams.
Capers captain Nick Breed cut the margin in half at 7:14 of the second with his first of three goals.
The Kennebunk response was swift, however.
Richard fed Fraser for his second goal of the night just 30 seconds later, which made it 3-1.
“He (Fraser) has a great attitude,” said Richard. “He hustles. He’s a feisty little player and (that’s) what our line needs.”
Then, with 3:01 remaining in the period, Richard upped the lead to 4-1 while the Rams were shorthanded, when he picked off a Caper pass deep in the Kennebunk end and raced down ice before beating Cape goalie Kevin Hare.
“The (defense) passed it over,” said Richard, “and I just read the pass, intercepted it and went down on the breakaway. You have to think in a split second. He (Hare) was out far, so I faked one way and went the other.”
That set up a frenetic final period that saw Kennebunk take a 5-2 lead ”“ thanks to Charlie Merry ”“ then hold on as the Capers scored twice to make it a one-goal game.
The final tally came from Breed with just 3.8 seconds remaining.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” said Kennebunk coach Don Hill. “Especially late. But it was a great team effort by our guys. I was really pleased.”
Kennebunk will return to action Thursday when it will visit Yarmouth at Travis Roy Arena.
“We’re on a streak, now,” said Richard. “We want to keep that going.”
— Contact Staff Writer Dan Hickling at 282-1535.
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