LEWISTON — Matt Caron, a high-scoring forward from Scarborough, became the 21st recipient of the Travis Roy Award Sunday afternoon.
Caron is the first player from Scarborough High School to receive the award.
Named for Travis Roy, a former North Yarmouth Academy standout who was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first shift in his first hockey game at Boston University when he crashed into the board, the award is given annually to the top senior player in Class A hockey.
In 18 regular-season games, Caron scored a team-high 19 goals and had a team-high 22 assists to lead all of the state’s senior hockey players in scoring and to help the Red Storm advance to their second consecutive appearance in the state final.
“Having a kid like Matty is great for your team,” Scarborough Coach Norm Gagne said. “You don’t see kids with his competitive spirit come along. It’s very rare to have a kid like him.”
Last year, Caron helped Scarborough win its first Class A hockey championship. He also played a key role when the Red Storm won Class A state soccer championships in 2012 and 2013.
“I was so pleased not just with his skill but with his leadership qualities,” Gagne said. “He’s not very vocal, but when he speaks, people listen. He sets a good example on and off the ice.”
A honor student the past four years, Caron will attend the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, where he intends to play soccer.
Other finalists for the award were Trevor DeLaite, a forward from Bangor; Ben Steele, a defenseman from Edward Little in Auburn; and Walsh Troiani-Gagner, a defenseman from Thornton Academy.
“All of us worked incredibly hard to get here, and Travis worked hard, starting in Yarmouth to get all the way to BU,” Caron said.
“At the beginning of the season, my coaches actually told me we had never had a Travis Roy (winner) from Scarborough. They were like ‘we want to see if you can be that guy, so you’re going to have to step up another notch.’ ”
During his speech at the annual Class A Coaches awards banquet, Caron talked how Travis Roy had inspired him.
“This award is named for a man who has had to face a life-altering situation and has made something positive out of it,” he said. “For Travis Roy, the 11 seconds he played on the ice in his first college hockey game was a culmination of a lifelong dream and hard work … Travis had to figure who he was because he knew he wasn’t going to be a hockey player anymore. He’s turned a tragedy into a positive.”
Roy now lives and works in Boston and is a motivational speaker who works with a charity named for him. The foundation raises money to fund grants for research and medical equipment for people who suffer from spinal injuries.
“My freshman year I never thought I would get to this point,” Caron said. “I’ve got to thank my coach and my parents. They’ve really just guided me along the path to get here.”
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