ROCKPORT — The Camden Hills varsity ice hockey team collected a key victory by a narrow margin Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Midcoast Recreation Center in Rockport against the Kennebec Riverhawks, the joint hockey team made up of players from Waterville and Winslow. 

With the Riverhawks entering the affair atop the Class B North standings, the Windjammers had their sights set on swiping the first place spot from Kennebec and with a 3-2 victory the Windjammers now sit at the top of the divisional standings with 24.2593 points and 6-2 record. 

The Windjammers scored its trio of goals in the second period, while the Riverhawks scored once in the first and once in the third. 

Kennebec’s first period goal came courtesy Zach Menoudarakos (John Evans assist), while the third period goal came from Cooper Hart (Menoudarakos assist). 

Scoring for the Windjammers were Ben Wells (Charlie Griebel assist), Bryce Tyler (unassisted) and Eliza Roy (Nicholas Tausek and Dylan Hastings assist). 

Ben Grenier guarded the goalie net for Kennebec and recorded 38 saves, while William Gardner recorded 21. 

“We knew coming into this game that every player had to invest themselves in the final outcome,” said Camden Hills head coach John Magri, who also noted the Windjammers were without one of the team’s top defenders due to an injury. “This group of players more often than not finds a way as a team to win hockey games.”

Magri praised his team’s checking line consisting of Eliza Roy, Hayden Thibeault and Dylan Hastings for applying consistent pressure against the Riverhawks and for baiting Kennebec into turning their frustration into a power play opportunity for the Windjammers. 

Though Magri noted the hosts maintained high-energetic play in the opening period, he noted the Windjammers played even faster in the second and continued to play aggressively with high pressure, which resulted in a trio of Camden Hills goals. 

In the third period, the Windjammers were once again playing up-tempo ice hockey and continued to play aggressively with constant pressure being applied. 

Magri, in post-game comments, shared praise for Andrew Orne, Nolan Delehey, Dylan Hastings, Ben Wells, Levi Guay and Will Gardner for protecting the Windjammers’ net. 

“Andrew Orne played a flawless physical smart hockey game for all 45 minutes of play and was a key role player in disrupting Kennebec’s offense all night,” said Magri. “Levi Guay’s multiple blocked shots in the game, high speed pressure, and gritty back checking all over the ice was something that I would label as heroic.”

The Windjammers will return to the ice on Saturday, Jan. 12 at Brewer’s Penobscot Ice Arena against Brewer at noon. 

Junior Varsity: Camden Hills 2, Kennebec 2

Both Windjammers goals were scored by Noah Quesnel. 

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.