The Wildcats varsity ice hockey team started their season off with a 5-1 win over the Houlton/Hodgdon/Southern Aroostook/Katahdin Blackhawks. Head coach Carl Flynn said, “We’ve had a hard time preparing for any game because of all the COVID quarantines, so we really did nothing specific to prepare for this game.” 

Despite the quarantines and absences, the game marked the start of the team’s 30th season since it began in 1991-92.

The Wildcats started out strong with senior Quinn DeMerchant scoring in the first period. Following that, Dawson Kinney ‘23 scored the next two goals in the second period. Then the Wildcats were so close to their next goal as they hit the post on back to back shot attempts. 

The Wildcats may have had a few disruptions because of COVID at the beginning of the season, but they didn’t let that stop them . “I think the thing that made a huge difference in tonight’s game is everyone’s equal efforts, and just continuing and going after the puck hard all the time,” said senior captain Jonah Roy.

Continuing the Wildcats’ impressive second period sophomore Garett LeTourneau scored, and the fifth and final goal for the Wildcats was scored by Breygan Mahan to finish the second period. 

The Wildcats were supposed to play Camden Hills on December 11 but due to weather conditions that game was postponed. The makeup date is still to be determined. 

There were multiple reasons why the Wildcats won. “I think because we had a deeper bench,” said Caleb Levesque ‘22, “And they had very few players who could actually compete with us was a huge reason we dominated this game.”

Finishing up the game, Houlton’s senior Josh McGillicuddy scored the Blackhawk’s only goal in the third period. 

“After playing game after game in an empty arena last season,” said LeTourneau, “It was awesome having our home opener, being a rival competition, and in front of a large hometown crowd.”