St-Amant registers hat trick as Mariners double up Bears for fourth in a row
BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners
PORTLAND, ME – November 14, 2018 – Shawn St-Amant registered three goals and assist as the Mariners posted a season-high six goals on Wednesday night to defeat the Orlando Solar Bears, 6-3 at the Cross Insurance Arena. The win was Maine’s fourth in a row, moving them to 6-5-0-1 on the season and into a tie for fourth place in the North Division.
After coming up empty on two early power play chances, Dwyer Tschantz scored the opening goal of the game at 7:06 of the first, when he went to the net and backhanded his own rebound past former University of Maine goaltender Martin Oullette. It took Orlando just 1:32 to tie it on Stefan Fournier’s finish of an impressive Chris Leblanc pass from the left wing corner. At 12:21 of the first, Dawson Leedahl put the Mariners back in front when his two-on-one wrist shot tipped off Oullette’s glove and into the net. St-Amant got insurance when Leedahl set him up at 18:08 for a quick backhand move in front. Terrence Wallin racked up two assists in the period, in which the Mariners’ three goals was a first period season high.
Orlando cut the deficit back to one early in period two and Mathieu Foget slipped a puck between Brandon Halverson’s legs. The Mariners power play converted at 14:25 – St-Amant tipping in Drew Melanson’s wrister from the left wing circle to bring the lead back to 4-2. Vincent Dunn’s goal at 6:59 of the third once again brought the lead back to one but St-Amant had the answer again, with another power play tally at 9:08 of the closing frame. The hat trick marked the first in Mariners history. Down a man with just over two minutes to go, Brycen Martin’s long empty net goal gave the Mariners their 6-3 win.
St-Amant, Leedahl, Wallin, and Martin all finished with multi-point games. Ryan Ferrill, Derek Pratt, Drew Melanson, Sean Day, and Scott Savage all registered assists. Brandon Halverson turned aside 28 of 31 for his third win in a row while Oullette went 36/41.
The regulation loss for Orlando snapped a seven-game point streak. The Mariners will travel to Brampton over the weekend to take on the Beast on Friday at 7:00 PM and Saturday at 4:00 PM. They’ll return home on Saturday, November 24th to host Manchester at 6:00 PM. Fans are encouraged to participate in “Teddy Bear Toss” – throwing stuffed animal donations onto the ice after the Mariners first goal, to benefit Toys for Tots and local children’s charities. The first 2,000 fans through the gate will also get a Mariner’s winter beanie. Tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com or by calling 207-775-3458.
