GORHAM –The Gorham boys hockey team (10-6-0) won their sixth straight contest on Feb. 14, pounding the Massabesic/Old Orchard Beach Mustangs (5-10-1) 13-2 at the University of Southern Maine Ice Arena in Gorham. Spence Cowand and Chris Hardy each had two goals and four assists to lead the Rams’ offense.
The Rams scored early and often as they took advantage of a sluggish Mustang performance.
Cowand got the rout started 6:36 into the game. After receiving a pass from Hardy, Cowand proceeded to fire a shot from an awkward angle along the sideboards. Cowand’s shot handcuffed Mustang goalie Jack Mendoza-Cuthbert, who was starting in place of regular Mustang starter Kasey Parks, and snuck between his shoulder and the post.
Four minutes later, Cowand and Hardy’s line was at it again.
After an extended possession in the Mustangs’ zone, Gorham’s Matt Hooker was able feed Hardy, who was parked in front of the crease. Hardy proceeded to bury his shot through Mendoza’s five-hole.
Despite their 2-0 advantage, Gorham coach Jon Portwine, was not satisfied with his team’s first period performance. “The first period we really didn’t play well at all,” said Portwine. “We were up 2-0, but once we started to play our system. We started to dump the puck and get a forecheck going and that’s when the offense really started to kick in.”
Gorham’s offense erupted in the second period as they scored five goals to take a 7-0 lead.
Nate Goodrich, who was returning from injury, got the scoring started for Gorham in the second as he was able to collect his own dump in pass and beat Parks, who replaced Mendoza-Cuthbert after the first period.
“(Goodrich) is just coming back from an injury,” said Portwine. “He gives them a little bit of a different dynamic. He’s got some speed, he did a really good job off the puck and the forecheck. I think that one goal where he dumped the puck, got it himself and put it in was a perfect example of the things we’re trying to do.”
Three minutes later, Gorham’s Elliot Gagne was able to make it 4-0 with the assists going to Hardy and Hooker.
Hardy would score unassisted less than three minutes later to collect his fifth of six points on the night (two goals, four assists).
Gagne collected his second goal just 15 seconds later in the period when he peeled off the sideboards and fired a shot just under the crossbar making it 6-0. “It was great, I thought we saw the ice really well tonight,” said Gagne. “We were able to get some goals on the board, which was good.”
Mick Mansir would score the Rams’ seventh goal on a breakaway with 32 seconds remaining in the period.
In the third period it didn’t get any better for the Mustangs as the Rams continued their offensive onslaught. Cowand scored his second of the game 4:06 seconds into the period to make it 8-0. Brad Turnbaugh would score his first of the season 19 seconds later on a shot from the point that deflected off a stick in front before beating Parks over her glove.
A.J. Gass was able to salvage some pride for the Mustangs as he scored 54 seconds later on the power play.
The Rams would get back the goal they gave away 36 seconds later as freshman Jordan Ward collected his first career goal to the delight of his teammates.
“We had a few freshmen score their first goals tonight,” said Gagne. “Its great to see, as an older player, to see the younger guys go out there and have some fun and score some goals.”
The Mustangs would get another one when Chris Pierce was able to beat Justin Broy on a slap shot to make it 10-2. That was the last goal the Mustangs would get.
The Rams would pour it on late, collecting three more goals by Zack Schmidt, Tucker Buteau and another by Hooker in a span of 1:49 late in the period.
It appears as if the Rams are playing their best hockey of the season at the right time as they gear up for the postseason, currently sitting in eighth place in the latest Heal Point standings.
“There’s still a lot of hockey,” said Portwine. “Right now we’re eighth in the Heals. This win will get us some Heal Points, I don’t know if it will be good enough to get us to seventh or not, but there’s a lot of hockey to be played. We’re not finding out who our (playoff) opponent is just yet, but we’ll find out soon enough.”
This was a familiar sight Tuesday night as Gorham tallied 13
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