Bangor High School left wing Nick Payson, the state’s leading Class A scorer with 43 goals and 28 assists in 23 games this past season, has decided to pass up his senior year at Bangor to play hockey for the Portland Junior Pirates.

He will finish his high school education at Thornton Academy in Saco.

“It’s tough to lose a player like Nick who is also a good student, a good kid and is very coachable,” said Bangor coach Dan Kerluke. “It was his decision. I support it and I wish him luck. I hope he does well.”

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Payson will also be missed by the Bangor football team. The All-Pine Tree Conference tailback ran for 1,588 yards on 280 carries last year and was one of the Rams’ leading tacklers from his strong safety spot. Bangor reached the state final where it lost to undefeated Bonny Eagle of Buxton 29-19.

Payson’s father, Dennis, said the decision was “real difficult for him.

“Leaving your friends and leaving home for your senior year is tough for any kid,” said Dennis Payson. “He wasn’t going to play Division I football but he has a shot to play Division I hockey. Several college scouts and coaches told us if wanted to do that, he had to step up to the next level.

“The Junior Pirates play more games and they play against better competition. You can’t improve unless you play against better players,” said the elder Payson.

Kerluke said Payson will play Division I hockey no matter what decision he made.

“He’s too skilled not to,” said Kerluke who added that it’s too bad Payson passed up an opportunity to become the first Maine high school athlete to win the Fitzpatrick Trophy and Travis Roy Award given to the state’s best senior football and hockey player, respectively.

Nick Payson attended the United States Selects 17 [years-old] camp at St. Cloud State University in July and his father noted that there were “very few kids there who played high school hockey. They either played junior hockey or in prep school.”

Bangor High School, which made its first ever appearance in an Eastern Maine Class A final this past season, played 23 games while the Junior Pirates played 53.

The Junior Pirates play in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League.

Junior hockey is for amateur players ages 20 and under who want to play more games than a limited high school schedule can offer.

There are several junior hockey leagues throughout North America. The players attend local high schools if they haven’t already completed their high school degrees and they usually live with a host family.

Dennis Payson said his son has played summer league hockey for Junior Pirates coach Jay Pecora and his associate head coach, Sean O’Brien, and he enjoys both coaches.

Former University of Maine standout Bob Corkum, who went on to have a productive 720-game NHL career, has been added to the staff as the director of player development and Dennis Payson feels that will be beneficial to Nick’s development.

He said his son’s longtime goal has been to play at the University of Maine.

He said since Nick is just 17, he can play two more years of junior hockey after next season and still retain four years of college eligibility.

Nick Payson, a two-time all-state selection, concluded his Bangor High School hockey career with 94 goals and 94 assists in three seasons.

Dennis Payson said Kerluke has played a major role in Nick’s development.

“Dan has had a great influence on turning the program around. Bangor is real fortunate to have a coach like him. It’s not just his coaching, he’s so enthusiastic about the off-ice [training] program. He puts a tremendous amount of time into it,” said Dennis Payson who added that his son also benefited from playing for football coach Mark Hackett.

Nick Payson couldn’t be reached for comment.