UTICA, N.Y. — The Maine Gladiators (ME) committed a penalty to go down a man about 90 seconds into overtime of the 1A title game in the 2025 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 18U National Championships.

One minute and 28 seconds later, Gladiators forward Dylan Blue broke free down the left boards, went straight at the goal and buried a shot to complete his hat trick and secure a 5-4 win against the Idaho Jr. Steelheads (ID).

“We took that penalty in overtime, and it got a little hairy,” Blue said. “Took the puck along the boards and went past their last guy. I was thinking, ‘Don’t mess this one up.’ (I then made) a backhand to forehand move on the right side.”

Jeffrey Guay, Maine’s head coach, added: “To have it go down to the wire and finish like that is absolutely great. Some of these guys have been to nationals in the past. It’s nice to get the win today.”

Despite the loss, Jefferson Dahl, Idaho’s head coach, was proud of how his team battled back in the third period.

“It was a good battle,” Dahl said. “Both teams played well. It was a grind to the end. You had momentum shifts, a special team’s game. But overall, I’m proud of our kids. They battled to the end.”

The game went into overtime because of a wild third period, which saw Idaho come back not once, but twice to tie the game.

It all started way back in the first period when Alex Gadbois finished off a two-on-one breakout for the early Maine lead. Brett Holman then tied it up with a backdoor tip-in later in the first.

Blue scored his first goal late in the second for another Maine lead, as his power-play shot from the left point sailed in.

It appeared the Gladiators were in full control when a quick tally from Ben Dumais in the third period gave them a 3-1 lead.

Idaho wasn’t ready to pack it in, though. At 9:21, Derek Yang scored a breakaway goal while shorthanded. Two minutes later, Holman tied it, placing the puck opposite upper corner from the left side.

 “Kept fighting. Kept grinding,” Dahl said. “You want to be playing your best hockey at the end of the year. You want to be playing championship hockey. We did that today.”

It only took another two minutes for Maine to regain the lead with Blue’s second tally while again on the power play with another shot from the blue line.

Again, Idaho didn’t give up, tying the game with 1:53 left in regulation with a power play goal of their own. Holman got his own hat trick of the night, shooting it in from the right circle.

“They’re a great team over there,” Guay said. “They are well coached. We had two great games, battles with them.”

Then came the penalty which could have ended it for Maine on the losing side but instead turned into a nightmare for Idaho.

“Dylan Blue has been amazing,” Guay said. “He’s been with us for six years and three with me. He and his brother [Ethan] are absolute competitors. Dylan had an outstanding tournament. Such a great leader. That’s why he’s the captain.”

It was something special for Dylan to share this win with his brother.

“This is our last competitive hockey game together because he’s going into the Marine Corps,” Dylan said. “It feels really good to win the last one with him.”

Tristan Bourassa made 30 saves for the win. Blake Drost stopped 40 in the loss.

Guay concluded, “To have it go down to the wire and finish like that is absolutely great. Some of these guys have been to nationals in the past. It’s nice to get the win today.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.