The Maine Director of the Hobey Baker High School Character Award recently announced 43 state-wide winners in high school hockey.

Each year, a senior hockey player from participating Maine high schools is selected by their coach for outstanding individual performance on and off the ice. The award honors high school hockey players who exemplify the Hobey Baker ideal that “Character Builds Excellence.” The Hobey Baker committee believes that character makes the game better and makes our players better. Candidates for the award are selected by their coaches based on coach-ability, strength of character, integrity, commitment, teamwork, community leadership, and outstanding sportsmanship.

“Established in 2003, the Hobey Baker High School Character Award recognizes character, commitment, and love of the game, Vin Contento, Maine Director of the Hobey Baker High School Character Award said.” Hobey Baker not only excelled in hockey, but in football as well at the collegiate level. He had a tradition of making his way to his opponent’s locker room to shake their hands after each contest. He despised dirty play and was penalized only twice in his college career. “While Hobey Baker was a legendary athlete, he was also a true gentleman. It’s important to recognize the same values and traits in these high school athletes and not just their on-ice abilities”, Contento said. This is the 13th year Maine high school hockey has participated in the award program.

Among the winners announced today were 14 girls and 29 boys from participating high school varsity teams across the state. Winners receive a personalized commemorative plaque – and a distinction shared by some of the top players to ever hit the ice: Hobey Baker winner.

2024-25 Hobey Baker High School Character Award Winners

Girls

Ella Labbe, Biddeford/Thornton Academy/Wells/Sanford; Elysia Palmer, Brunswick; Zoey Radford, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak; Audrey Farnham, Falmouth/Scarborough; Alison Smith, Gorham/Bonny Eagle/Massabesic/Fryeberg/Lake Region/Westbrook; Eve Hein, Greely/Gray-New Gloucester; Lucy Braby, Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland/Monmouth; Avaya Desjardins, Lewiston/Oak Hill/Mt. Ararat/Morse/Lisbon; Hartson Mosunic, Portland/South Portland/Waynflete/Portland; Sophia Sullivan, Winslow/Gardiner/Coney/Messalonskee/Lawrence/Erskine/Maranacook/Mt. Blue; Drea Rideout, Yarmouth/ Freeport; Sadie Latchaw, York/Traip Academy/Marshwood/Noble; Gabby Allen, St. Dominic’s Academy/Lisbon; Jordin Williams, Brewer/Bangor/Hampden/Hermon/John Bapst/Old Town/Orono.

 Boys

Marc-Andre Perron, Bangor; Grant P. Cram, Brewer/Lawrence/Skowhegan; Avery Tatham, Brunswick/Freeport; Harper Lilly, Camden Hills; Brady Hanisko, Cape Elizabeth; Cooper Jacobs, Cheverus/Yarmouth; Cale Harrington, Cony/Hall-Dale/Maranacook/Erskine/Madison/Mt. Blue/Richmond/Winthrop; Andrew Clements, Edward Little, Thomas Healey, Falmouth; Austin Gould, Gardiner/Waterville/Winslow/Lawrence; Jacob Shvets, Gorham; Ezra McDuffie, Greely; Lucas Dunn, Hampden Academy/Nokomis; Ryker Forbush, Houlton/Hodgdon/Katahdin; Nick Needham, John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor Christian/Deer Isle-Stonington; Cooper Samson, Kennebunk/Wells; Neil Heath, Fryeburg Academy/Lake Region/Oxford Hills; Andrew Theriault, Lewiston; Joshua Sawyer, Marshwood/Traip/Sanford/Noble; Owen Kirk, Messalonskee; Sam Lambert, Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse/Hyde; Nate Baker, Old Town/Orono; Forrest St. Laurent, Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester; Bailey Davenport, Presque Isle; Quinn Staples, Scarborough; Michael Zaccaria, Portland/South Portland/Deering/Waynflete; Curtis Wheeler, St. Dominic’s Academy; Cameron Cyr, Thorton Academy; Maclean Douris, York.