Waterville’s Hart wins Roy Award East ‘A’, West ‘B’ record victories

WATERVILLE – Waterville High School senior right wing Nate Hart was named the recipient of the eighth annual Travis Roy Award given to the senior Class A hockey player who best exhibits the traits of athleticism, academic performance and community service.

It is chosen by the Class A coaches.

Hart, the fifth all-time leading scorer at Waterville with 105 goals and 100 assists, had 26 goals and 10 assists in 20 games for the Panthers this season.

The Panther co-captain beat out Portland High School forward Jay Morgan and Cheverus High of Portland goalie Ryan Shelley.

“Nate was a center but we moved him to right wing because we needed him to score and he wound up scoring over half of our goals,” said Waterville coach Norm Gagne. “He has great hands, he’s strong, he sees the ice well and he’s a very unselfish player. He is one of the top players in the state. He is also a great leader.”

Gagne said Hart’s selection came as a “real surprise” because his team finished 8-12 and didn’t qualify for the tourney.

Gagne added that Hart is an honor roll student and the state’s all-academic award winner who plans to study engineering at the University of Maine. He is active as a youth hockey coach.

Gagne said Hart plans to give hockey a shot at Maine as a walk-on.

The award is named after the Yarmouth native who was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first shift at Boston University.

East ‘A,’ West ‘B’ post victories

At Portland, the East’s Class A and West’s Class B stars collected wins over their counterparts in the schoolboy hockey senior all-star games at the Portland Ice Arena Saturday.

The East’s “A” stars beat the West 6-3 and the West’s “B” squad topped the East 5-3.

In the “A” game, Lewiston’s Kirk Bolduc had a goal and two assists and Blue Devil teammates Brian Vye and Adam Toutain had a goal and an assist apiece as did Hart.

Brewer’s Josh Caldwell and Brunswick’s Nick Austin scored the other East goals while Mount Ararat of Topsham’s Eric Reeber, Edward Little of Auburn’s Randy Morin, Brewer’s Jeremiah Richter and Lewiston’s A.J. Beedie had assists. Lewiston’s Ethyn Brodeur, Brunswick’s Ryan Mateyko and Skowhegan’s Tom Hopkins each played a period in goal.

Biddeford’s Matt Lemay had a pair of goals and Saint Dominic of Auburn’s Ryan Laplante had the other.

Five West stars had an assist apiece and the goalies were Cheverus of Portland’s Ryan Shelly, South Portland’s Theo Moser and Massabesic of Waterboro’s Shane Brooks.

In the “B” game, Cape Elizabeth’s Luke Holden had a goal and two assists and Yarmouth’s Greg Abbott and Greely of Cumberland Center’s Sean McKay had a goal and an assist each to power the West. Kennebunk’s Nick Doherty and Lisbon’s Luke Michaud combined for 32 saves.

Hampden Academy’s Greg Taylor had two goals for the East and assisted on the other by Gardiner’s Shawn Kelley. Presque Isle’s Tom Gregg, Hampden Academy’s Adam Standley and Messalonskee of Oakland’s Luke McPartlin had assists. Hampden Academy’s Garrett Macgowan, Orono’s Anthony Hegstrom and Stearns High of Millinocket’s Nick Simon teamed up for 34 stops.