MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — The Maine Gladiators 18U hockey team opened national tournament play with a victory Thursday.

The Gladiators, made up mostly of players from the Auburn-Lewiston area, scored twice in the third period to beat the Anchorage North Starts 3-1 in both teams’ first game at the USA Hockey Tier II 18U 2A tournament.

Maine’s Wesley Clements — a 2022 Edward Little graduate — broke a 1-1 tie with a goal that was set up by Lewiston native Nick Pelletier early in the third.

In the final minute of the game, Campbell Cassidy — an Edward Little senior — added a power-play goal off assists by Lewiston native Daxton St. Hilaire and Pelletier. Both St. Hilaire and Pelletier played for North Yarmouth Academy this season.

The Gladiators fired 13 of their 28 shots on goal during the final period.

Cassidy set up the game’s first score, a shorthanded goal by NYA’s Grey Perham in the middle of the first period.

The Alaska team tied the game with an Evan Fitzgerald goal in the second.

Gladiators goalie Aidan Farion (another NYA product) stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced. Anchorage goalie Maxwell Dupree finished with 25 saves on 28 shots.

The Gladiators resume pool play Friday at 5 p.m. against the Montgomery Ice Devils of Maryland. The Ice Devils won their opener, beating the Arizona Bobcats 4-3 on Thursday.

The Maine Gladiators 18U team pose for a photo prior to a practice last week at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal