Caron

Caron

Shoebottom

Shoebottom

Male:

MATT CARON, Senior-Hockey

* Travis Roy Award winner

* Class A South, all-star, first-team

* Senior All-Star

* Captain

Caron was healthy this winter and determined to have a memorable senior season and he not only led Scarborough within a goal of a repeat championship, he also earned the most prestigious honor in high school hockey.

During his high school career, Caron made his mark both on the soccer pitch (he was Scarborough’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year as well) and the ice. 

Caron, who started playing hockey at the age of five, saw key minutes as a freshman, played an even bigger role as a sophomore, then expected to star as a junior, but he broke his collarbone early in the season and didn’t return until the end of the regular season. The year had a happy ending, as Caron had four goals and three assists as the Red Storm enjoyed a postseason run to a first-ever Class A state title.

Caron was healthy throughout this winter and had many highlights. He had two goals, including the winner in OT, against Biddeford, scored twice in a victory over Edward Little, had two more goals in a win over Kennebunk, scored with 13 seconds left in regulation to forge a tie versus Cheverus, had two goals to help beat Portland/Deering and give Norm Gagne his 700th coaching victory and scored the tying goal with 6.3 seconds to go in a deadlock with Lewiston.

Caron was unstoppable in the playoffs, scoring a natural hat trick in the second period and adding a fourth goal in the third period in a quarterfinal round win over Massabesic/Bonny Eagle/OOB and adding a goal and an assist in a semifinal victory over Cheverus. Scarborough fell a goal short of a repeat title, however, losing to Lewiston on a goal with 29 seconds remaining in regulation.

Caron finished with 20 goals and 22 assists and ultimately garnered the biggest prize in Maine high school hockey, the Travis Roy Award, which goes to the top senior player in Class A.

“It was very cool to go out with the Travis Roy Award,” Caron said. “There was a lot of pressure coming into the season, but we almost won again. We were very focused. We wanted to win it again. It was a very successful season. I like the quick pace of hockey. If you work hard, you’ll be a successful player.”

Caron will play baseball this spring for the first time since middle school, then will matriculate at Maine Maritime Academy, where he plans to play soccer. 

What a high school career he had. Matt Caron, Scarborough’s Winter Male Athlete of the Year, defined excellence and leadership and he’ll go down as one of the finest players in program history.

Coach Norm Gagne’s comment: “Matt put everything on the line. He did a great job leading. He brought intensity, leadership, passion and the will to win. He’s a competitor. When I say a competitor, he’s a true competitor. It means something to him. You don’t find many people like that, that want to win so bad they take it personal. The importance of him on the team is not just his leadership, but his passion and his will to win.”

Previous winners:

2014-15 Ben Bragg (hockey)

2013-14 Jake Gross (hockey)

2012-13 Jerry Gravel (swimming)

2011-12 Alec James (track)

2010-11 Mike Cyr (wrestling)

2009-10 Robby Gravel (swimming)

2008-09 Brad Nakanishi (track)

2007-08 Chris Hughes (basketball)

2006-07 Brent Mayo (hockey)

2005-06 Doug Endrizzi (swimming)

2004-05 Andrew Rogers (swimming)

2003-04 Mike Walker (basketball)

2002-03 Ryan Colpitts (basketball)

2001-02 Sean Flaherty (swimming)

Female:

SAMI SHOEBOTTOM, Junior-Hockey

* South Region all-star, first-team

* Assistant captain

Shoebottom was a star from the moment she put on a Scarborough jersey and while her time with the Red Storm has come to an end, rest assured, she won’t ever be forgotten. Another season of offensive fireworks almost led the Red Storm to the pinnacle and earned Shoebottom repeat mention as Winter Female Athlete of the Year.

Shoebottom, the daughter of former Maine Mariners star Bruce Shoebottom, took up hockey at an early age. While she also played soccer and lacrosse, hockey came first and Shoebottom debuted as an immediate star, helping Scarborough go undefeated and win the state title her freshman season. She scored 46 goals and had 15 assists as a sophomore, but Scarborough lost to Falmouth in the West Region Final.

As a junior, Shoebottom wound up tickling the twine 52 times and also assisted on 17 goals. Highlights included a hat trick in a season-opening tie versus Falmouth, four goals in a win over Portland/Deering, three goals against Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland, a season-high six goals versus Yarmouth/Freeport/GNG, two goals, including the OT winner, versus Falmouth, four goals, including the late winner, against Lewiston and two goals in a loss to Greely.

In the playoffs, Shoebottom continued to shine, scoring three times in a semifinal round win over York, tickling the twine three more times, all in the third period, in a regional final victory over Falmouth, then scoring the final goal of the season in the first period of a 2-1 state final loss to St. Dom’s.

“It was a really fun season,” Shoebottom said. “I enjoyed it a lot. We played our hearts out.”

Shoebottom will eschew her senior season at Scarborough and will transfer to The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania as she pursues her dream of playing Division I college hockey.

“I grew a lot at Scarborough and made a lot of friends,” Shoebottom said. “There are a lot of memories I’ll never forget.”

Rest assured, she’ll never be forgotten either. Sami Shoebottom, Scarborough’s Winter Female Athlete of the Year, leaves a undeniable legacy and has plenty of greatness in her future.

Coach Caitlin D’Amour’s comment: “We’re really fortunate Sami’s a great kid with a great attitude. The girls love her. Sami can dominate a game and dictate the play in every zone. She plays an obvious role on our team in regards to the scoreboard, but she also played a big part in the locker room as she was an assistant captain. She worked hard every practice and every game and left it all out there. She put the team first and wanted to do whatever she could to get the team to the top. She played hard, tough hockey, not just the finesse fancy stuff. She’s a tough player that will grind hard along the boards and in the corners and would have any of her teammates’ backs. She’s been a solid role model to her teammates and a great representation for the Scarborough jersey.“

Previous winners:

2014-15 Sami Shoebottom (hockey)

2013-14 Ashley Briggs (basketball)

2012-13 Devan Kane (hockey)

2011-12 Emily Tolman (track)

2010-11 Emilia Scheemaker (track)

2009-10 Laura Flewelling (swimming)

2008-09 Reegan Brackett (basketball)

2007-08 Nicole Harmon (swimming)

2006-07 Kaitlynn Saldanha (track)

2005-06 Erica Jesseman (track)

2004-05 Jenn Flaherty (swimming)

2003-04 Sarah Mills (hockey)

2002-03 Jenn Flaherty (swimming)

2001-02 Mandi Rapisardi (basketball)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter:@foresports.