Stefan Owens loves playing against the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks.
The 20-year-old Maine Nordiques forward scored two goals during a 5-2 victory in a North American Hockey League East Division contest Saturday night.
Seven of Owens’ team-leading 20 goals this season have come against the Hat Tricks.
Associate head coach Matt Pinchevsly said the team doesn’t draw up plays for players who do well against a certain opponent, but they try to get that player or line more ice time.
“We trust (Owens’) decisions on the ice and he’s really supportive with his linemates, they do a great job working with him out there,” Pinchevsky said. “It’s essentially about momentum or the pace of the game. There might be a situation, pace or decisions or what his line generates (for offense) might serve a better purpose in which we might get them back out there.”
Patrick Schmiedlin’s late-game heroics helped the Maine Nordiques snap their five-game losing skid Friday.
Schmiedlin scored twice as the Nordiques defeated the Danbury Hat Tricks 6-5 in overtime in a North American Hockey League East Division contest at the Danbury Ice Arena.
The Nordiques came back from a one-goal deficit twice in the third period to force overtime. Schmiedlin, who has committed to play at Colorado College, put home a pass from Makem Demers for the game-winning goal less than a minute into the overtime.
“Being mindful of the situation and how we execute our blueprint was the reason (we won),” Maine Nordiques associate head coach Matt Pinchevsky said. “They had gone over the plan and they believed in the plan. I would say it had everything to do with (our) mentality, and they remained mindful through the entire game.”
Patrick Schmiedlin scores two key goals in Maine Nordiques' OT win over Danbury sunjournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sunjournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
7 of 7
New Jersey s Zach Nazzarett, left, and Maine s Aidan Connolly battle for the puck during Saturday s game in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
LEWISTON The Maine Nordiques ended their four-game home stand with another loss at The Colisee.
The New Jersey Titans defeated the Nordiques 5-1 in a North American Hockey League East Division contest. Maine has lost four straight at home and five overall.
With nine games left on the schedule including the next seven on the road the Nordiques (28-18-1, 57 points) have a six-point advantage over the Titans (22-16-7, 51 points) for second place in the East Division.
The Maine Nordiques frustrated the Maryland Black Bears with relentless puck pressure Monday afternoon.
The Nordiques defeated the Black Bears 4-1 in a North American Hockey League East Division contest at the Ice World Arena in Edgewood, Maryland.
“Everything, in terms of momentum and sustained momentum, was rooted from our forecheck,” Maine Nordiques associate head coach Matt Pinchevsky said. “Our forecheck was fabulous, and it started in one big-time wave from the Cannon Green, Makem Demers and Patrick Schmiedlin line. It followed right down the lineup.”
Luke Antonacci opened the scoring for the Nordiques (17-9-1, 35 points), scoring the only goal of the first period with seven minutes remaining. The goal was set up by James Philpott and Jack Strauss.