Who can beat Thornton Academy? The top-ranked team in our Maine high school boys rankings came out of the gate slow — dropping a 7-4 decision to a Messalonskee team that has revealed itself as a squad to be taken seriously — but hasn’t skipped a beat since.
It has pulled out some close games, including a recent 3-2 win over a stingy Falmouth team, but hasn’t been beaten since Dec. 6. For now, Thornton’s reign atop the landscape is untouched.
But a bevy of suitors have presented themselves, headlined by a Messalonskee team that has already beaten them. Cheverus/Yarmouth and Lewiston have also been hot and are certainly in the conversation.
Some new squads have also been thrown into the mix in our latest rankings, including a team riding a four-game winning streak.
Let’s take a look at where things stand as the Maine high school hockey season enters the new year.
1. Thornton Academy (6-1-0)
Previous rank: 1
Class A
Coach: Jamie Gagnon
Next: vs Trail Blazers, Jan. 8, 7:05 p.m.
Thornton Academy has played only one game since our last rankings — a 3-2 win over Falmouth — and nothing has changed regarding them as the team to beat. Trent Lesieur had his name all over the victory, scoring two goals. Jake Skillings picked up assists on both tallies, and he has totaled 9-14-23 and is one of the top playmakers in the state. Both Lesieur (11-8-19) and Skillings are untouched atop the league scoring leaders. Expect the duo to remain hot as Thornton battles the Trail Blazers and Cheverus/Yarmouth this week.
2. Messalonskee (4-1-0)
Previous rank: 2
Class B North
Coach: Dennis Martin
Next: vs Hampden/Nokomis/Ellsworth/MDI, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Messalonskee’s 7-4 win over Thornton Academy in the first game of the season is still sparkling on its resume. Head coach Dennis Martin’s team has continued to shine, recently skating past Old Town/Orono (10-0) and Scarborough (2-0). Alex Beckwith (5-5-10) and Christian Salvadori (5-5-10) have emerged as Messalonskee’s top scoring threats. If they can settle into a groove in the second half, look for Class B to run through Messalonskee.
3. Cheverus/Yarmouth (5-1-0)
Previous rank: 4
Class A
Coach: David St. Pierre
Next: @ Falmouth, Jan. 7, 6:50 p.m.
Make that five wins in a row for Cheverus/Yarmouth, which recently knocked off Edward Little (2-0) and Marshwood/Noble/Sanford/Traip (11-0). St. Pierre’s group is playing its best hockey ahead of the biggest contest of the season, a clash with Thornton Academy on Jan. 10. Hakon Yeo (4-5-9) has been heating up, lighting the lamp in the team’s most recent win over a talented Edward Little team. Ben Dumais picked up a helper on Yeo’s tally and leads the team in scoring (3-6-9). However, Cheverus/Yarmouth can’t afford to look past Falmouth, a team that has thrown some scares into formidable competition, including a 3-2 loss to Thornton Academy.
4. Lewiston (4-2-1)
Previous rank: 5
Class A
Coach: Sam Cloutier
Next: vs Kents Hill, Jan. 7, 8:20 p.m.
The Blue Devils rolled to a 4-1 victory over Edward Little on Dec. 27. Lewiston did yield a 3-3 draw with Scarborough last week, but it overcame a 3-0 deficit with a three-goal salvo to avoid the defeat. Forward Aizyk Laliberte was a big reason why. He pocketed two tallies and has posted 13-4-17 so far this winter to lead the league in goals. His star power should be enough to keep Lewiston in contention. Lewiston will get another shot at Scarborough on Jan. 19.
5. Edward Little (5-3-0)
Previous rank: 7
Class A
Coach: Kevin Smith
Next: vs Bangor/Brewer/Skowhegan/
Edward Little has played to a pair of close defeats against some top-end talent, including at the hands of Lewiston (4-1) and Cheverus/Yarmouth (2-0). In between the hard-fought losses, they beat Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford 9-2 to leap them in the top 10. Romeo St. Pierre exploded in the blowout win, lighting the lamp four times while dishing an assist. Nolan Heath (5-11-16) and Breccan Albert (5-8-13) have also been playing well. We’ll know more about this team at the end of the month, when it takes the ice for a rematch with Lewiston on Jan. 24 before dropping the puck with Thornton Academy on Jan. 31.
6. Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford (4-1-0)
Previous rank: 3
Class A
Coach: Wayne Neiman
Next: @ Portland Co-op, Jan. 10, 6:20 p.m.
The Ice Cats suffered that 9-2 loss to Edward Little in their only game since our last rankings. It is the only loss on the resume of Neiman’s team, which beat Windham/Westbrook/Bonny Eagle/Sacopee Valley 2-1 in the season opener. Jokubas Mostavicius (10-3-13) and Gunner Truman (7-12-19) continue to impress.
7. Cony Co-Op (4-1-0)
Previous rank: 9
Class B North
Coach: Dan Foster
Next: @ Old Town/Orono, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.
Cony has emerged as the top team in Class B thanks to its huge win over Messalonskee earlier in the season. Since then, Cony has been dominating, most recently downing Gardiner (8-1) and Presque Isle Co-op (6-2). A strength of this team is its depth. In the 7-1 blowout over Gardiner, six goal scorers found twine, headlined by two-goal performances from Cooper Clark (4-6-10) and Connor Callahan. For now, Class B North belongs to Cony, with challenges upcoming from Old Town/Orono and Hampden/Nokomis/Ellsworth/MDI.
8. Windham/Westbrook/Bonny Eagle/Sacopee Valley (3-5-0)
Previous rank: 6
Class A
Coach: Benjamin Haskell
Next: @ Thornton Academy, Jan. 8, 7:05 p.m.
The Trail Blazers certainly have their work cut out for them this week against Thornton Academy, as the team is on the heels of a skid that has produced losses in four of their last five. The Trail Blazers have now lost twice to Lake Region/Fryeburg Academy/Oxford but still have a win over Edward Little. If they want to right the ship before the postseason, the time is now. Look for Mason Caron (7-4-11) to have a hand in a second-half resurgence.
9. Gorham/Massabesic Co-op (6-1-0)
 
Previous rank: NR
Class B South
Coach: Shawn Sullivan
Next: @ York/Biddeford, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.
A four-game winning streak has paved the way for Gorham/Massabesic Co-op in the top 10. They beat Kennebunk/Wells to avenge a 5-2 loss in the season opener. Levi Wagner (3-8-11) has been at the forefront of Gorham/Massabesic Co-op’s recent tear through Class B. He scored two goals in the team’s most recent 3-1 triumph over Gardiner. Gorham/Massabesic Co-op’s win streak also consists of victories over Marshwood/Noble/Sanford/Traip (8-1) and Cape Elizabeth (3-2). Look to see how Sullivan’s team fares against some Class A competition in January. The team is set to face Windham/Westbrook/Bonny Eagle/Sacopee Valley on Jan. 17.
10. Leavitt/Poland/GNG/Oak Hill Kings (5-1-1)
Previous rank: NR
Class B South
Coach: Jason Rouleau
Next: vs Greely, Jan. 10, 4:30 p.m.
Leavitt/Poland/GNG/Oak Hill Kings is another team getting hot at just the right time. While turning in a pair of dominant victories — 7-4 over Brunswick/Freeport and 6-0 against Cape Elizabeth — Rouleau and Leavitt/Poland/GNG/Oak Hill Kings also played to a 2-2 tie with Kennebunk/Wells. We’ll know more about what this team is capable of when it meets Kennebunk/Wells in a short turnaround on Jan. 17. Tyler Mates (10-9-19) has proven himself as a top talent and is a name to watch as the winter progresses.
Dropped out: Kents Hill (8)l; Kennebunk/Wells (10)
