Scarborough boys’ hockey coach Norm Gagne knew how important Matt Caron was going to be to the team last year.

Then, when he didn’t have Caron, that importance was only magnified.

Luckily for Gagne and the Red Storm, Caron came back from injury in time for the playoffs, and played a big role in making a run to the Class A state championship and winning the whole thing.

And luckily for Scarborough, Caron is back again this season as a senior.

With a full season under his belt the Red Storm center was at the heart of Scarborough clinching the South region’s No. 1 seed. He led the team in both goals (19) and assists (22). And beyond the stats, Caron was Scarborough’s seminal captain.

“The importance of him on the team is not just his leadership, but his passion and his will to win. You don’t find many people like that,” Gagne said. “He’s a competitor. And when I say a competitor, he’s a true competitor. It means something to him. He takes it personal. You don’t find many people like that, that want to win so bad they take it personal.

“I was just like that.”

Anyone who knows Gagne knows what wining means to the legendary Maine high school coach. He’s coached a lot of players, but was quick to say that players like Caron only come around once in a great while.

Caron is a talented player, but the senior said he likes to play “simple.”

“I think in Norm’s system you have to be a smart player in order to play in it,” Caron said. “And I think I can play the systems pretty well, and if you can play the systems well and buy into what Norm is trying to do, you can be successful no matter what player you are.”

The Red Storm’s most productive offensive player also pointed out that his No. 1 priority is to keep the other team from scoring.

“I, myself, hate to give up goals,” Caron said.

On the offensive end, his favorite spot is below the goal line, where the opposition has to travel farthest to score a goal.

The player Caron showed he can be this season is the one Gagne was counting on last year.

Then, he broke his collarbone in the season opener.

“For him to be out for the whole season was really devastating for us,” said Gagne, who estimated he had a different lineup in every regular-season game last year.

“I sat back and watched my team struggle through that whole year,” said Caron, who didn’t return to the lineup fully healthy until the regular-season finale. “We battled a lot of adversity with me having to change lines every day. But when it came to playoffs we got everyone back and we got all the right gears clicking.”

Caron, too, clicked in the postseason, scoring four goals and assisting on three others to help Scarborough capture its first Class A state championship.

He’s had a similar impact in this year’s playoffs, totaling eight points (five goals, three assists) in three games leading up to Saturday’s state final against Lewiston.

Caron is the lone Travis Roy Award finalist left in the playoffs. He said the recognition is an honor, and that he has a lot of people to thank, including coaches and the team leaders that came before him. Caron singled out Sean McGovern, Nick Bagley and Jake Gross as former teammates he’s tried to emulate.

Gagne has always taught his teams to grow vicariously through their respective leaders. Like Caron, this year’s team has played disciplined and defensive-minded.

Caron has one last game to put his leadership — as well as his skills — on the line. And for him, it will definitely be personal.

“It’s probably my last important high school hockey game I’m ever going to play, so I’m going to … leave it all on the ice,” Caron said.

wkramlich@sunjournal.com

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