Bangor hockey too much for Brewer on this night

ORONO – The ice rink at the University of Maine, The Alfond, may not have been packed to capacity, however, it had a good size crowd of loud students and adults that supported their teams in a fast-paced, hard-hitting, high school hockey game.

Bangor's Ben Brook (2) lights the goal with the Ram's first goal on the night. Bangor went on to win 6-2 over host Brewer. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

In the end, Bangor was just too strong, especially late in the third period where the Rams took home a 6-2 win over the host Brewer Witches.

Click here for the full Photo Gallery from this game

One person waiting for the doors to open called this the biggest hockey game of the year. I heard another say this could get brutal. The crowd was as ready as the players for this one. 

The first period was more about who could hit who the hardest on the boards. There were, however, no penalties called in the entire first 15 minutes of the game. 

Brewer's Jarrod Harvey, top, flys over Bangors Garrett Courtney as play intensity pick up. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Bangor took a 1-0 lead at 3:21 into the first period when Ben Brook scored unassisted. That would be all the scoring in the period.

The Rams and Witches came out in the second period and the tempo of the game changed as well as the politeness of some of the hits. After 15 minutes of no penalties, Bangor ended up with nine and Brewer five. Fortunately only one was out of frustration. At times this was hard to believe it was only a high school hockey game.  One thing is for sure, some of those boys are going to wake up very sore this morning. 

Bangor scored its second goal at 11:18 into the period when Cooper Ireland took a pass from Drew Dorr and drove it into the back of the cage past Brewer's Tyler St. Lawrence before he could even see it. 

Bangor goalie, Jake Hirsch takes a breather after a Bangor score. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

With the Rams up 2-0 and just 56 seconds left in the period, Brewer's Kevin Moreau was able to get a nice setup from Aubrey Badger and was able to beat the Rams defense for the power-play goal. 

The third period was all about Bangor as they powered in four goals while holding Brewer to just one. 

Sean Hyatt got the scoring started for Bangor with an assist from Aiden Scripture at 2:29 into the period. About four minutes later Hyatt did it again, this time unassisted. 

At 8:27 into the period, Brewer managed to put another goal on the board, this one from Keegan Nilsson with assists from Moreau and Josh Birch. 

Bangor's last two goals came from Jacob Munroe unassisted at 10:04 and Scripture from David Brown and Anthony Cassese at 11:48.

Jake Hirsh was in goal for Bangor where he faced 23 shots for the win, while Tyler St. Lawrence was in goal for Brewer where he too 32 shots on goal. Evan White came in to play goal at 3:12 and had one shot on goal. 

Brewer's Keegan Nilsson, left, puts the puck in the goal past Bangor's Jake Hirsch in the second period. 

Bangor goes to 5-3 on the season and they will travel to Lewiston next Wednesday, Jan. 15 for a 6:30 p.m. face off at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

Brewer falls to 3-4-1 and will host the always tough Old Town/Orono team at the Penobscot Ice Arena Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6:10 p.m.

BANGOR---1---1---4---6

BREWER---0---1---1---2 

Brewer's Nicholas Lamprecht takes a look for open teammates. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Bangor's Sean Hyatt comes around the back of the net to clear it out. Hyatt had a pair of goals to lead Bangor to the win.  (Photo by Ron Hawkes)