LEWISTON – It’s been quite the two years for Scarborough senior Matt Caron.
After scoring the first goal of the 2014-15 season in the first period, he broke his collarbone later in that same game which required surgery, putting him out of commission for eight weeks. He would rejoin the team for the final third of the regular season as the Red Storm got hot at the right time and defeated St. Dominic Academy for the Class A Championship
This season – his final year of schoolboy hockey – he appeared in all 22 games where he scored 19 goals and 22 assists and led Scarborough back to the State Championship game.
Scarborough would fall short to Lewiston, but his passion, intensity, on and off the ice accomplishments were recognized Sunday afternoon as he was named the 2016 Travis Roy Award winner as the best senior hockey player in Class A.
The Travis Roy Award is the most prestigious award in high school hockey and is handed out annually by Class A Coaches Association to a senior playing in Class A boys’ high school hockey that embodies off-ice sportsmanship with on-ice performance.
“Freshman year, I never think I would get to this point,” Caron said after winning the award. “I’ve got to thank my coaches so much and my parents. They really guided me along the path to get here. It’s really incredible to be holding this trophy right now.”
The other three finalists were Walsh Troiani-Gagner of Thornton Academy, Ben Steele of Edward Little and Trevor DeLaite of Bangor. Other semifinalists included Kerry Crepeau of Biddeford, Luke Trickey of Cheverus. Kyle Morin of Lewiston and Austin Roy of St. Dom’s.
“I played with Kerry and Luke many times on various travel teams, and we have a ton of great memories,” Caron said in his speech. “I feel honored with this group of guys.”
He’s the first player from Scarborough to win the prestigious award, and the third player Norm Gagne has coached to win it. The previous two players – Nate and Chad Hart – won the award while Gange was the head coach at Waterville.
“At the beginning of the season my coaches actually told me we never had a Travis Roy Award (winner) at Scarborough,” Caron said. “So, they are like we want to see if you can be that guy. So this year you are going to have to step it up another notch just like I did last year. It’s just incredible to see from the beginning of the season where you have the chance to be a Travis Roy finalist to getting to the point where I am now.
He was the third Red Storm finalist joining Nick Bagley back in 2013 and Brent Mayo in 2007.
Caron, who is also a standout soccer player where he was a member of the Class A South all-region team and Southern Maine Athletic Association first team member, will be hanging up his skates as a competitive hockey player and will continue his career on the pitch at Maine Maritime Academy.
Gagne believes he will do well in Castine.
“I know he will go onto Maine Maritime I believe and play soccer, and I am telling you right now they are going to love his competitive spirit,” Gagne said.
Gagne also said his competitiveness helped him get back into the line-up last season.
University of New England men’s hockey coach Kevin Swallow was the guest speaker at the banquet. The former University of Maine player spoke about his academic issues at Dartmouth College before joining Maine and Black Bear teammate Scott Darling’s battle with alcoholism and rise to the NHL. Swallow’s message was in life you will get knock down, it’s how well you get back up. He also presented the Travis Roy Award to Caron.
The Travis Roy Award was first handed out in 1996 after its namesake, Travis Roy, was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first collegiate game with Boston University. Roy, a native of Yarmouth, attended Yarmouth High School and later North Yarmouth Academy before moving on to Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass, where he awarded with a scholarship to attended Boston University.
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