Scott Bowman was known to mix up his lines and configurations continually, even relentlessly, during his long coaching career.

And what did it get him?

How about 10 Stanley Cup rings ”“ eight as a coach, two as an executive ”“ and the center spot on the Mount Rushmore of bench bosses.

Thornton Academy coach Jamie Gagnon has displayed some of the same tendencies, after moving over this season from arch rival Biddeford, where he played a major role in all three Tiger state championships.

And as his Golden Trojans ”“ themselves the reigning Class A champs ”“ show all signs of being the team to beat again, Gagnon, like Bowman, has successfully thrown convention to the wind.

“If it ain’t broke, why not make it better?” said Gagnon, which seems to be the modus operandi, and a pretty sound one, too.

First, after Thornton ”“ currently sporting an impressive 9-1-1 mark ”“ sustained its lone loss of the year just before Christmas, Gagnon got to work on installing a new wrinkle in the Trojans attack.

He stationed massive defenseman Tyler Danley in front of the net during power plays, casting a large shadow over opposing goalies. That ties up one or more defenders assigned the futile task of trying to shove Danley away from the crease ”“ just the way he’d be double-teamed on the football offensive line in the fall ”“ and giving Thornton snipers at all four corners, even if not the middle of the cage, to fire at.

“I don’t mind it,” said Danley. “It’s kind of hard to move me. I make a better door than a window. If it takes more guys to occupy me, than it means there are more guys open around the edges.”

Then, following Thornton’s 3-3 tie last week with Falmouth, Gagnon yanked the cord on his rotorooter and shredded his line combos, completely remaking his top three units.

The response was a hearty 6-2 win on Saturday over St. Dom’s.

It shows just how deep the talent pool at Thornton really is.

“We’ve said all along that we think we have three lines that can play,” Gagnon said. “However you throw those pieces together, they can play together. We play a very similar system throughout. We’ve just got to see who will mesh, and see what combinations will work going into the end of the year.”

Gagnon did say that there is one Trojan who will not be changing his job description.

That would be senior goaltender Joe Ferrante, who has been the backbone of the stingy Thornton defense. He won’t be skating up front, unless it’s just for fun.

“He’s the one spot that I can probably say is staying in place,” Gagnon said.

Thornton will play twice this week, hosting both Portland on Wednesday and Bangor on Saturday. The matchup with the Rams (10-1-0) could be a preview of the state championship game on March 12.

Tigers’ Fields big

man in the cage

Meanwhile, Biddeford, while finding goals difficult to come by, is battling to stay in the upper half of the Western Class A standings.

Although they’ve only scored three goals in their last two games ”“ two by senior Matt McGuirk ”“ they’ve managed to pull one win over Scarborough and one tie over Lewiston.

In the middle of their collective scoring woes, the Tigers have looked to junior netminder Jon Fields to hold their fortunes together.

Fields has allowed just nine goals over the last five games, and has routinely given Biddeford a chance to win.

“We can’t forget about Jonny,” said Tigers co-captain Tyson Nadeau. “Jonny’s kept us through (it all). We wouldn’t have anyone else besides Jonny.”

Fields is also the cousin of Thornton’s goalie Joe Ferrante ”“ their grandmothers are sisters ”“ meaning that defending each end of the Saco River bridge is truly a family affair.

Biddeford will host Waterville on Wednesday, then travel to Falmouth for a crucial Saturday clash with the Yachtsmen.

Outdoor game

still in waiting

Portland Pirates’ managing owner Brian Petrovek has long talked about bringing an outdoor game to southern Maine.

And that’s before the AHL ever staged any of its outdoor events ”“ in Syracuse, N.Y., Hartford, Conn. and Philadelphia ”“ each of which were the centerpiece of a larger hockey celebration.

And while the notion hasn’t completely been cast aside, Petrovek said that such an event will have to wait awhile.

“It continues to be a live idea,” said Petrovek. “I was interested in perhaps making it part of our 20th anniversary celebration next year. But right now, it’s into the weeds on the cost side of it. The risks and rewards associated with it. We decided not to go there with everything we have going on to focus on the indoor game.”

The proverbial elephant in Petrovek’s office is the upcoming major facelift in store for the Pirates home rink, the Civic Center.

While details for spending the nearly $33 million allocated by Cumberland County voters are still being hashed out, one idea gaining steam is to close the building for a full year and do the entire makeover at once.

That would displace the Pirates for next season, 2012-13, forcing them to find another venue ”“ most likely the Colisee in Lewiston ”“ in which to celebrate their 20th birthday.

Needless to say, that would make the staging of an outdoor game at Fitzpatrick Stadium, rather low on the priority list.

“There are a whole bunch of things that are core to our business,” Petrovek said, “and (we) have to be in a stronger place as we go into next season. And to add another layer to that to figure out how to put time and energy, money and staffing into an outdoor game is just too much, in my estimation, to try and do.

“But it is still on my radar as part of an anniversary campaign. I think it is something that at some point would be a great event for Portland.”

One item that remains firmly on track, Petrovek said, is the Pirates’ commitment to the expansion of MHG Ice Centre in Saco.

Construction is expected to begin soon on a second ice sheet at MHG, as well as a full dressing room for the Pirates, who will use the facility as their full-time training (on and off ice) and administrative home.

Petrovek said that he and Ron Cain, a co-owner of both the Pirates and MHG, will finalize the timetable this week.

“We’ll call Saco home for year-round, high-performance practice and training,” Petrovek said. “That’s still very much the objective. We’re working hard to make that happen.”

— Contact Staff Writer Dan Hickling at 282-1535.