BIDDEFORD, Maine (BVM) — On Nov. 6, the Maine Eclipse competed against the New England Wolves during a tight battle for a win. 

Both teams had collected a total of eight minutes for penalties, on four infractions, with only one goal scored off a power play. The Eclipse goalie, Ryan Maguire, had 30 saves out of the 35 shots that were on target. Wolves goalie, Ayden Kopec, had 26 saves out of the 30 shots on his target. 

Going into the first period, both sides of the ice were amped up and ready for a good battle. As the energy was high, no scoring came out of it. Two penalties had taken place in the first, both against the Eclipse, minors for roughing, and too many men on the ice. Even though it was a scoreless first period, the boys didn’t lose any of their energy. Coming back out onto the ice for the second period, they brought the same energy they started with. 

Eclipse head coach Eric Michaud said, “After a scoreless first period, it seemed this was going to be another tight affair between the two clubs but late in the second period played a part in our demise.”

Right from the start of the second period, Dean Church took a trip to the penalty box for roughing. The Wolves came out swinging with the first goal of the period only 2 minutes and 16 seconds in. Jack Marcoux scored the goal on even strength. That lit a fire underneath the Eclipse. They answered back at 11 minutes and 22 seconds with Sam Rumelhart’s goal, assisted by Nathan Myers and Luke Geiger. Shortly after, a penalty was given to Jared Wagenmann, which had struck an argument between Eclipse coach Eric Michaud and the referee. Michaud would end up getting booted from the game. There was a total of five goals scored in the second period, three coming from the Wolves and two coming for the Eclipse. Making the total score at the end of the second 3-2 the Wolves.

As the Eclipse continued to rally, the Wolves managed to put two more pucks in the back of the net at the start of the final period. Both teams seemed to be losing energy getting late into the game, as it was a tender and slow battle for the rest of the third. Until the Eclipse got their second wind. Lunging in and scoring two goals at the end of the third, with a Wolves penalty between the two, making the second goal a power-play goal. The power-play goal was scored by Maxim Chagovets, assisted by Jason Gratz. Making the game total 5-4, with a lead still by the Wolves.

Coach Michaud said, “We fell asleep, and [you can’t] allow two goals in 24 seconds and four goals in 8 minutes if you go into the third period.”

At the end of the third, both sides of the ice were exhausted, but that didn’t stop the wolves from having a celebratory gathering at their end of the ice around goalie Ayden Kopec. All of the Maine Eclipse goals were scored by different players on the ice, followed by Sam Rumelhart, Maxim Chagovets, Nathan Fisher, and Jason Gratz, assists coming from similar players. Wolves goals coming from Jack Franklin, Adam Hoff, David Hoftiezer, and two from Jack Marcoux. 

“Overall, I thought our team played well, and we ended up having a comeback bid fall short as we only lost by one goal,” said Coach Michaud. “This was the greatest number of goals we had scored all season in a game, so I was very happy to see some improvement in the offensive side of our game while our few defensive mistakes, unfortunately, ended up in the back of our net.” 

Unfortunately for the Eclipse, their season was put on pause after this game took place from some revolving changes in the Maine Hockey Leagues. They will be getting back on the ice in the Biddeford Ice Arena again on January 2, 2021. The boys are looking forward to getting a small breather, so they can come back refreshed and energized to finish out their season strong.