ST. JOHN’S, NL – December 8, 2023 – Brock Caufield’s second goal of the game at 5:42 of overtime spoiled a Mariners comeback, but Maine rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a point in a 4-3 OT loss in the weekend opener at Mary Brown’s Centre. The Mariners now have points in five straight games (3-0-2).
Newfoundland broke the seal just 1:43 into the game, when Neil Shea found a loose puck in the slot after a Lincoln Erne point shot, spun around, and beat Shane Starrett to make it 1-0 Growlers. The Mariners had three power play chances in the opening frame, including a double-minor high-sticking penalty, but couldn’t capitalize, and trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The Growlers scored a power play goal to make it 2-0 at 7:42 of the second period, when Jackson Berezowski scooped up a rebound and pushed it around the pad of Starrett. Ryan Mast’s first professional goal got Maine on the board at 12:28, as his blast from the top of the right circle beat Luke Cavallin through a screen. Two more goals came quickly in the next minute as Brock Caufield crossed into the slot to beat Starrett at 13:57, but Adam Mechura responded by finishing an Ethan Keppen feed at 14:43, as a delayed penalty was pending against the Growlers.
Trailing by one in the third, leading goal-scorer Reid Stefanson notched his 8th, one-timing a bad angle shot from the left circle off a Jimmy Lambert feed from behind the net. Tied up a three, the Mariners penalty kill came through clutch, denying two Growlers opportunities in the third. A mundane overtime was ended at 5:42 when Caufield finished a give-and-go with Cory Dennis.
Each team totaled 34 shots in the game, as Cavallin stopped 31 and Starrett, 30.
The Mariners (7-8-2-0) have two more meetings with the Growlers this weekend: Saturday night at 5:30 PM ET and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 PM. They return home on Saturday, December 16th for “Pickleball Night” at 6 PM, also against the Growlers and the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday, December 17th at 3 PM against Adirondack. Additional promotional information and single game tickets can be found at MarinersOfMaine.com. Fans can also purchase single game tickets at the Ware-Butler Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena. Group discounts and ticket packages are available through the Maine Mariners front office by calling 833-GO-MAINE or visiting the office at 94 Free St. in Portland. The 2023-2024 season is presented by Hannaford to Go.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
New Mexico Goatheads
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trenton Ironhawks
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers