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Small, Gagne help Cony tie EL

By BILL STEWART, Kennebec Journal Saturday, January 12, 2013

HALLOWELL -- The five-game winning streak is history, thanks to a few wasted opportunities, but not all was lost for the Cony hockey team Saturday evening against Edward Little at the Bank of Maine Ice Vault.

"We didn´t play with that sense of urgency," Cony coach Chad Foye said. "We tried, but it wasn´t there. You´re going to have these kind of games throughout the season."

Zach Gagne scored a first-period goal and Tommy Small stopped 40 shots, including a few big ones in overtime, as Cony played Edward Little to a 1-1 tie in an Eastern A game.

The Rams (6-2-1) were playing their third game in four days and it seemed to be a factor as the game progressed.

Tyler Leet assisted on the goal for Cony, which is idle until hosting Bangor on Saturday.

Matt Verrill scored a power-play goal for the Red Eddies (2-4-2), who are fighting for an Eastern A playoff berth.

Zach Gosselin also made 40 saves, including nine in the eight-minute overtime.

"They are a good team," Gagne said. "We definitely didn´t have our best effort, but we played OK. We definitely had some opportunities but just couldn´t capitalize."

Small had eight saves in overtime, including two on mini-breakaways 21 seconds apart.

The first came with 6 minutes, 36 left when Brendon Pelletier came charging down the left wing and skated in alone on Small after a Cony defender fell to the ice. Pelletier got off a good shot, but Small gobbled the puck up with a nice chest save.

"I did what I had to do," said Small, a freshman who attends Monmouth Academy. "I needed to be there."

He was there again seconds later when Brendon Croteau split two defenders and barreled down the slot with a chance to win the game.

Croteau faked the forehand shot then went to the backhand, but Small didn´t bite and came up with the save.

"He played tremendous," Foye said. "He´s been consistent for us all year."

Added Gagne: "He had some really big saves for us. He kept us in it and gave us a chance to win."

Gagne gave the Rams a 1-0 lead when he scored from the top of the zone with 4:30 left in the first.

"I got a good pass and it was a perfect one-timer," Gagne said.

The Red Eddies tied it when Verrill beat Small down low with 5:13 left in the second. Trevor Haley had the assist.

"We had our chances but just couldn´t finish them off," Foye said. "We didn´t give up, though."

Bill Stewart -- 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com