Bedlam took over the ice at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee earlier this month when Biddeford won the Class A boys’ hockey state championship.

Players posed for pictures. Coaches shook hands with thrilled parents, and there were hugs galore. Off to one side, reporters cornered Trevor Fleurent for his comments.

Fleurent, a senior forward, had scored the final goal in a 3-0 victory over Waterville. But Fleurent made sure everyone was straight on who factored in the first two goals.

“I was in the (penalty) box,” Fleurent said. “My linemates — all the credit to them. They did the hard work.”

But Trevor Fleurent was the leader of this championship team. When asked about it, he again deflected the praise.

“The kids who came up in this program are great kids and they all work so hard,” Fleurent said. “I give all the credit to the guys. Working hard every day pays off.”

Advertisement

If you think Fleurent is displaying classic false modesty, you haven’t seen him play. He passes, he grinds, and does all the little things to help his team. And, yes, he often scores.

And it’s no surprise that Fleurent is the Maine Sunday Telegram MVP for boys’ hockey.

Just two weeks ago, Fleurent was awarded the Travis Roy Award, presented to the top senior in Class A hockey.

Truly, he was the best around.

His statistics stand out. Fleurent, 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, led Class A in both goals (33) and assists (27).

Opposing coaches said it was difficult to devise a plan to contain Fleurent. He wasn’t just a scorer who took the puck, drove and tried to power his way in, although he could do that.

Advertisement

Fleurent was a playmaker, as deft at a one-touch pass as he was with a slap shot.

Thornton Academy Coach Shawn Rousseau, who saw his share of Fleurent this season, said the scoring numbers tell only part of the story.

“No one gives him credit for being a defensive centerman and no one gives him credit for being a physical player,” Rousseau said. “He’s as complete a forward as I’ve seen at this level.”

Fleurent was the only Biddeford player named to the Telegram’s All-State team, but he was hardly a one-man squad. He led a talented group of Tigers. And if this all-star team featured an honorable mention category, it would be flooded with Biddeford players — three other forwards and all four defensemen were considered for the team.

Such a skilled team can fall apart with ego battles. This team worked together from the start, with its biggest star serving as a model of team play.

When Waterville faced Biddeford in the state title game, the Panthers shadowed Fleurent, a strategy that worked for only so long.

Advertisement

“They kind of put a guy on me,” Fleurent said with a no-big-deal shrug. “But that just opened up my two linemates.

“It’s a team sport, not based on one player.”

Fleurent found his linemates, just like he found the back of the net many times this season.

Fleurent plans to play junior hockey next year.

 

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.