If you look at their list of results, it’s easy to see why the John Bapst High School Crusaders hockey team from Bangor has posted what is believed to be a program-best 17-1-1 record.
The Crusaders have given up just 16 goals in 19 games and have posted nine shutouts including Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Houlton-Hodgdon-Katahdin in their Class B North quarterfinal at Sawyer Arena in Bangor.
Top seed John Bapst, which also has players from Hermon High School, will now take on Sawyer Arena mates and fifth seed Hampden Academy, 11-7-1, in Saturday’s 7 p.m. semifinal at Colby College in Waterville.
Second seed Cony of Augusta, 15-4, and third seed Messalonskee of Oakland, 14-5, will square off in the other semifinal following the John Bapst-Hampden game.
The winners will meet for the B North championship next Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena in Orono.
John Bapst head coach Devin Fitzpatrick said he knew he would have a good team but the 17-1-1 record was unexpected.
“The boys have had a good season. We have a good group of skilled guys but we’re short in terms of depth,” said Fitzpatrick. “These guys have beared down and put in the work and the record reflects that.”
“But I didn’t anticipate 17-1-1,” he added.
Senior defenseman Nick Needham and senior center Will Bourgeois are dynamic game-changers with their skill and their speed.
“We didn’t lose too many seniors and we worked pretty hard in the offseason,” said Needham. “We knew we were going to be good and could stack up against any other team.”
Bourgeois and Needham lead the team in scoring. Bourgeois has 22 goals and 15 assists and Needham has 13 goals and 23 assists.
“We’re a close-knit group and we work hard in practice. We don’t take any days off and that definitely helps,” said Bourgeois.
The team’s stout defensive play has resulted from a variety of factors, according to Fitzpatrick.
“We have two really good goaltenders; we have a couple of the best defensemen in the league and our team backchecks real well,” said Fitzpatrick.
Hampden Academy transfer Trenton Zetes, a senior, had a 0.67 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage during the regular season and freshman Cam Leighton had a 1.11 GAA and a .940 save percentage.
Leighton made seven saves for the shutout win over Houlton-Hodgdon-Katahdin.
“We communicate and work together well. We know where we’re supposed to be [on the defensive side of the puck],” said Needham.
Houlton-Hodgdon-Katahdin coach Tony Marino said the Crusaders are well-coached.
“They have a lot of skill and a lot of speed. Needham and Bourgeois are great players,” said Marino. “It’s a good, solid team. Everybody plays their roles well.”
John Bapst junior Cooper Lewis is the team’s third-leading point-getter with 8 goals and 18 assists and he is on a line with Bourgeois and sophomore right wing Nate Marryatt (8 goals, 8 assists).
Marryatt’s older brother, Owen, is the senior left wing on the second line and has 12 goals and 6 assists. Junior center Bode Phillips has 3 & 4 and the right wing on that line, sophomore Sam Churchard, also has 3 & 4.
Freshmen Mason McNally (3 & 3) and Owen Wade (0 & 1) also see ice time up front.
Joining Needham on the blue line are sophomore Owen Hart (7 & 12), senior Silas Comstock (5 & 8) and senior G Cardinal (0 & 2). Needham and Comstock are paired together as are Hartt and Cardinal, son of former University of Maine standout winger and captain Reg Cardinal.
Hampden Academy features the talented and prolific duo of Boston Merrow (29 goals, 11 assists) and Lucas Dunn (15 & 22). Miles Shields and Brody Miller each have five goals and 10 assists and Zach Wilson has 12 assists.
Junior Aiden Surran has posted a 2.50 GAA and a .883 save percentage for Hampden.
Hampden Academy-Nokomis beat Presque Isle 5-2 in its quarterfinal round game.
