John Bapst boys’ hockey crew is aiming for its 1st state championship
For gamers on the John Bapst Memorial Excessive Faculty boys hockey crew, losses have fueled their motivation.
They had been upset about being ousted from the Class B North quarterfinals by eventual regional champ Camden Hills of Rockport final season after which shedding to Previous City-Orono 4-3 of their second common season recreation this season.
Since then, the Crusaders have soared to the highest of the B North Heal Factors standings with their 9-2 report. They displaced Messalonskee of Oakland atop the standings with a 3-0 street win over the Eagles final week.
Clockwise, from left: John Bapst senior Carter Partitions takes a shot on purpose throughout a recreation in opposition to Presque Isle on Wednesday at Sawyer Area in Bangor; John Bapst goalie Gavin Bartlett makes a save in a recreation in opposition to Presque Isle on Wednesday; John Bapst’s Caleb Robbins and Presque Isle’s Cooper Boinske collide throughout a recreation on Wednesday at Sawyer Area in Bangor. Credit score: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
The Crusaders have seven common season video games remaining earlier than the playoffs. Their purpose is to win the varsity’s first hockey state championship.
“That was an enormous win, particularly at their place,” stated John Bapst senior heart and assistant captain Carter Partitions. “If we are able to beat them, we are able to beat anyone.”
Partitions stated that the crew offered itself brief final season by shedding within the first spherical of the playoffs.
“We had been all motivated to come back again tougher this 12 months and that’s what we’re doing,” Partitions added.
“That created a little bit fireplace within the bellies of those guys,” stated fourth-year head coach Devin Fitzpatrick.
Partitions didn’t play within the Previous City-Orono loss and senior goalie Gavin Bartlett stated the remainder of them “didn’t present up“ both, primarily based on the way in which they underperformed.
“[Old Town-Orono] caught it to us. They performed the sport of their lives. After that recreation, we knew we couldn’t simply present up and anticipate to win. We now have to work for it,” Bartlett stated.
John Bapst has since received eight of its final 9 video games, with the one loss coming to Class A Bangor 3-0.
The Crusaders, who went 9-7-1 throughout the common season final 12 months, have outscored their opponents 70-18.
“We now have been outworking groups,” stated senior heart and assistant captain Aiden Dunn. “We now have plenty of ability as properly nevertheless it’s about how we use it now.”
The crew solely misplaced two gamers off final 12 months’s roster whereas a few of the different B North groups had been hit exhausting by commencement. Fitzpatrick has 11 seniors.
Partitions, Bartlett and Dunn stated they’re positively a greater crew this season.
“We acquired plenty of expertise final 12 months. That’s the important thing. We’re all quicker, stronger and deeper,” stated Partitions, who leads the crew in scoring with 21 targets and 14 assists in simply 9 video games.
Brewer coach Lance Ingerson recommended John Bapst’s first and second traces.
“They’re quick and so they transfer the puck very properly,” Ingerson stated.
Previous City-Orono coach Chris Thurlow referred to as them a “fairly deep” crew.
“They transition the puck rather well. Partitions is the quickest participant within the league and he has such a fast launch on his shot, he can beat goalies at this stage fairly repeatedly,” stated Thurlow, who coached Partitions for 2 seasons when he performed for Previous City-Orono earlier than transferring to John Bapst.
Partitions is “most likely the most effective participant within the league,” in line with Presque Isle coach Carl Flynn.
“I’m not worrying about what number of factors I get, I’m simply making an attempt to win video games. If you happen to do this, the factors will come,” Partitions stated.
Fitzpatrick stated he has two official scoring traces and a resourceful third line that will get a daily shift with both Partitions or Dunn centering it.
Will Bourgeois (10 targets, 6 assists) and Nate Tibbits (5 & 5) flank Partitions on one line and Dunn (10 & 10) has Lucas Gagnon (11 & 12) and Curtis Brown (6 & 7) on his wings.
“Having two prime traces we are able to rotate via actually offers us a bonus over plenty of groups that don’t have that depth,” Dunn stated.
Clockwise, from left: Credit score: John Bapst’s Carter Partitions and Presque Isle’s Garett LeTourneau look ahead to a flying puck to hit the ice throughout a recreation in opposition to Presque Isle on Wednesday at Sawyer Area in Bangor; John Bapst’s Curtis Brown skates with the puck throughout a recreation in opposition to Presque Isle on Wednesday at Sawyer Area in Bangor; John Bapst senior Aiden Dunn skates with the puck throughout a recreation in opposition to Presque Isle on Wednesday at Sawyer Area in Bangor. Bapst received the sport 5-3. Credit score: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Owen Marryatt (1 & 1) and Hunter Higgins (1 & 0) are the wings on the third line.
The Crusaders have a gentle and skilled protection corps headed up by tri-captain Caleb Robbins (3 & 16 in 8 video games).
Nick Needham (0 factors) is paired with Robbins whereas Dylan Sawyer (0 & 1) is partnered up with Emery Audibert (0 & 1). Silas Comstock (0 & 1) additionally performs a daily shift and freshman Cooper Lewis (1 & 1) has additionally been getting taking part in time.
Bartlett has posted a 1.84 goals-against common and .933 save proportion. He has 4 shutouts.
“He has been our brick wall. He has come a good distance and has labored actually exhausting to be the place he’s at,” Fitzpatrick stated.
Bartlett stated that his greatest space of enchancment has been the psychological side of the sport.
“You need to present up mentally to each recreation and, if in case you have a nasty night time, you’ve got to have the ability to bounce again,” stated Bartlett, a three-year starter.
The goalie additionally stated going through his personal crew’s shooters in apply has been helpful.
“If I can cease the puck in opposition to them, I can cease it in opposition to anybody,” he stated.
