Girls’ hockey: Sami Shoebottom, Scarborough

SCARBOROUGH — Since her stellar freshman season two years ago, Sami Shoebottom has heard how she needed a greater challenge than high school hockey.

But Shoebottom likes her Scarborough High team, and stayed. She dominated as a sophomore, winning Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year honors in girls’ hockey in 2015.

Sami Shoebottom, left, scored 52 goals in only 21 games this winter while leading Scarborough to the girls’ hockey state championship game. For the second year in a row, she’s the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year. Whitney Hayward/Staff Photographer

Sami Shoebottom

TELEGRAM ALL-STATE TEAM

Kristina Cornelio, St. Dominic freshman, forward: Cornelio was superb at finishing plays, as well as setting up her teammates. She finished with 25 goals and 27 assists for the state champions.

Isabelle Frenette, St. Dominic freshman, defenseman: Frenette is a complete player end-to-end. Strong with the puck, she totaled 22 goals – including the winner in the state final – and 13 assists.

Rebekah Guay, Biddeford junior, goalie: Guay kept her team in games, often facing 30 to 40 shots. She also recorded three shutouts and helped the rebuilding Tigers reach the playoffs.

Jill Hannigan, Cheverus senior, defenseman: Played both forward and defense, finishing with 34 points (19 goals, 15 assists) in 15 games. Hannigan will play for Nichols College.

Sarah Hutcheon, Falmouth senior, forward: With a powerful shot, Hutcheon was a threat every time she touched the puck. She led Yachtsmen to the South final with 29 points (19 goals, 10 assists).

Avery Lutrzykowski, St. Dominic freshman, forward: An excellent playmaker who helped the Saints’ top line sizzle, she recorded 22 goals and 28 assists in 18 games. She had four points in a 5-4 win over previously undefeated Greely in the North final.

Ellie Schad, Greely junior, defenseman: Besides being the anchor on the defensive end, Schad often pushed up the puck, creating rushes. She ended up with 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists).

Sami Shoebottom, Scarborough junior, forward: With a remarkable scoring touch, Shoebottom was heavily defended in every game, yet still accumulated 69 points (52 goals, 17 assists).

Martina St. Angelo, Falmouth senior, defenseman: The Yachtsmen were known for their offense, but St. Angelo proved to be a very solid defenseman while chipping in seven goals and seven assists.

Danita Storey, Greely senior, forward: When Storey was around the net with the puck, she was hard to stop, recording 23 goals and 19 assists. Storey finished her career with more than 100 goals.

Courtney Sullivan, Greely sophomore, forward: Sullivan is 5-foot-10 with deceiving speed. She showed the ability to take over games, offensively and defensively, and totaled 46 points (27 goals, 19 assists).

Nica Todd, Greely junior, goalie: Todd became a dependable goalie who made big saves in close games while recording a 1.40 goals-against average.

Coach of the Year

Paul Gosselin, St. Dominic: Gosselin welcomed a load of gifted players, most of whom were freshmen. Dominating lesser teams and learning from mistakes in their losses, the Saints emerged as the state’s best team, only two years after the program was reduced to junior varsity status.

– Kevin Thomas

Shoebottom did it again this winter. After a 69-point performance, Shoebottom is the first girls’ hockey player to be chosen as Telegram Player of the Year two seasons in a row.

But she will not win the honor a third straight year. Shoebottom is finally listening to those telling her to move on. Next year, she will play for The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Shoebottom said. “I’m upset about leaving, obviously. I formed a lot of good friendships here. But if I want to pursue a career in hockey, I have to leave.”

She had quite a high school career, beginning with a state championship as a freshman, then reaching the regional final last year and the state final this winter.

“She put the team first and wanted to do whatever she could to get the team to the top,” said Scarborough Coach Caitlin D’Amour.

What she could do best was score, with 52 goals and 17 assists. In two regular-season games against rival Falmouth, Shoebottom scored twice in a 2-2 tie, then recorded two goals and an assist in a 3-2 win. In the playoffs, she scored a hat trick in a 5-2 victory over Falmouth.

“Sami can dominate a game and dictate the play in every zone,” D’Amour said. “She plays an obvious role on our team in regards to the scoreboard, but she also played a big part in the locker room … she’s been a role model to her teammates.”

Besides Shoebottom’s precise, laser shots, “she played hard, tough hockey,” said D’Amour said. “Not just the finesse fancy stuff – she’s a tough player that will grind hard along the boards and in the corners … I’m assuming she gets that from her dad (former Maine Mariners and Boston Bruins player Bruce Shoebottom).”

Shoebottom also has played junior hockey in Massachusetts on Sundays and in tournaments. That’s how Ari Baum, coach of the The Hill School’s girls’ team, discovered her.

“She immediately stood out for having superior hockey sense,” Baum said. “We really needed to add a player who could become a major offensive contributor – Sami has all the tools to be able to do just that.”