Breanne Fortiguerra concluded her final season as the Red Storm coach on Tuesday, when her team capped off a 20-0 season with the Tier II championship.

"When the girls came to practice, they practiced," Fortiguerra said. "And when they came to games, they showed up to play."

But Fortiguerra is also one of the pioneers of girls hockey in Maine, who played on the boys hockey team at Massabesic and then played on USM's women's team. Since she began playing hockey, she's seen the women's game evolve in Maine.

"There's definitely a lot more talent now in girls hockey," Fortiguerra said. "Even when I started coaching six years ago, there were girls who were deciding to become hockey players. It's a lot more competitive for men to play college hockey and for women it was easier. But now it's more difficult. Still, on my team there are probably at least six girls that will play college hockey, if they want to do so."

Girls hockey will begin MPA competition in December.