A new man, Thibodeau is

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Old Town High School senior left wing Cory Thibodeau had put his head down at center ice to try to find a loose puck and never saw the check coming. Bangor High School defenseman Russell Moores jolted the unsuspecting Thibodeau with a crunching shoulder check that shook the Sockalexis Memorial Ice Arena, not to mention Thibodeau.

A few years ago, Thibodeau might have sought retaliation.

But Thibodeau picked himself up, got back into the play and made a good pass that led to a breakout. He showed no ill effects of the check and proceded to play a solid two-way game in leading Old Town to yet another win, 5-2.

“I used to have a habit of doing that (retaliating),” said Thibodeau. “But now I’m a captain and it’s important for me to set a good example. And we don’t have as much depth as we’ve had the last few years so if any of the top players are in the penalty box, it hurts the team. But I still slip up sometimes.”

Thibodeau has put together another exceptional year for the Indians as he leads the team in scoring with 48 points on 28 goals and 20 assists. The defending state Class B champions are 13-1 and riding a 13-game winning streak.

“He knows how important he is to the team and he has controlled himself this year,” said Old Town Coach Gene Fadrigon.

Controlling his temper hasn’t been easy this season.

Thibodeau was involved in a hunting accident last fall that resulted in the amputation of a portion of the lower right leg of close friend Chad Thompson. Thibodeau’s gun had accidentally discharged while he changed hands with it.

Players and fans from opposing teams remind him of the accident and taunt him to try to get him off his game.

The accident itself still affects him.

“It’s difficult to deal with at times,” said Thibodeau. “People on the ice will say things like `What are you going to do, shoot me?’

“I try to tune it out,” added Thibodeau. “I try to disregard it. I consider them ignorant (for saying those things). I try not to deal with it.”

“It certainly affected him,” said Fadrigon. “He had a really hard time dealing with it. It’s quite a thing to put on a young man.

“But I told him that he was a victim, too, and that he had to take care of himself,” added Fadrigon. “There have been some pretty mean things said to him this year and he’s handled it pretty well.”

Fadrigon said Thibodeau is having his best season.

“He’s gotten better every year,” said Fadrigon. “He is skilled, he’s really smart with the puck and he sees the whole ice surface. Cory is strong on his skates, he can really handle the puck and he’s a legitimate sniper.”

“I think I’ve become more of a complete player this year,” said the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Thibodeau. “I used to be more offensive minded but I’m back-checking more than usual this year.”

The 17-year-old Thibodeau is an exceptional all-around athlete. In addition to being an All-Eastern Maine Class B hockey player, he was a second team All-LTC linebacker and offensive guard this past fall and was the league’s eighth-leading tackler with 95, including 68 solos. Old Town made the LTC playoffs but lost to Orono in the semifinals.

In baseball, catcher Thibodeau led the Penobscot Valley Conference in hitting with his .595 average last spring. He led Old Town to the Eastern Maine Class A championship.

And it was his overtime goal last winter that gave Old Town its first state Class B hockey championship, 6-5 over Yarmouth. He has helped Old Town win two Eastern Maine B titles.

“He’s very gifted in anything he does,” said Old Town baseball coach Dave Paul. “He’s a very fiery competitor. The other players look up to him and he has the ability to make them play better. He’s a very hard worker and a pleasure to coach.”

Thibodeau doesn’t deny he has a very competitive nature.

“I like to win,” said Thibodeau.

But Thibodeau is more than a talented athlete. He is an honor roll student.

`I work hard at my schoolwork. I like to achieve. I like to do the best I can in everything,” said Thibodeau.

Thibodeau, who has been to a couple of U.S. Selects Team camps, said hockey is his favorite sport and he would like to play it in college.

Cornell and Maine are his choices right now.

But, for the time being, his goal is to “lead the team to another state hockey title.”