The Cape Elizabeth boys’ hockey team, considered by some prior to the season to be a contender for the Class B championship, fell short of the postseason this winter.
The Capers eked out a 2-1 overtime win at Leavitt last Wednesday on sophomore Nick Breed’s goal to stay alive, but Saturday, with the postseason on the line, Cape Elizabeth fell at home to Camden, 6-4, and its 8-10 record was only good enough for fifth place in Western Class B, where just the top four teams advance to the playoffs.
Scarborough and South Portland will take part in the Western A playoffs, which begin this weekend with the quarterfinal round.
The Red Riots had a sensational regular season, losing just once in their final 14 games after a 1-3 start to wind up 14-4. The victory total matched the 2004 and 2009 teams for most in a year.
South Portland will be the No. 4 seed for the tournament and will host No. 5 Portland (9-9) in a quarterfinal round game Saturday at 4 p.m., at Portland Ice Arena.
The Red Riots beat the Bulldogs twice this year, 6-2 on Dec. 12 and 6-3 on Jan. 21. The teams have met twice before in the playoffs, with Portland capturing both: 3-2 in overtime in the 2002 divisional quarterfinals and 5-2 in the 2003 quarterfinal round.
Saturday’s winner will draw the winner of a compelling No. 1 Biddeford (15-2-1)-No. 8 Scarborough (6-10-2) showdown in the semifinals Saturday, Feb. 27, in Lewiston.
The Red Storm aren’t your typical No. 8 seed and were very competitive with all the top contenders. Scarborough closed with close losses to Thornton Academy (1-0) and Lewiston (4-3). The Red Storm dropped two decisions to Biddeford in the regular season, 4-3 on the road in the opener way back on Dec. 5 and 5-2 at home Jan. 6.
The Tigers eliminated Scarborough from the playoffs in the 2007 regional final (6-3) and the 2008 semifinals (7-3).
The Red Storm did not face South Portland this season. The schools have no prior playoff history.
The Western A Final is Tuesday, March 2. The Class A state game is Saturday, March 6. Both rounds will be played in Lewiston.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net
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