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Jake Skillings was tough to keep off the scoresheet, and Thornton Academy was tough to beat this season.

The senior forward had four games with four or more points and was held without a point only twice while helping the Golden Trojans win their second straight Class A state championship.

Skillings, the Travis Roy Award winner, finished with 21 goals and 27 assists for the 20-1 Trojans. He’s scoring prowess makes Skillings the Varsity Maine Boys Hockey Player of the Year.

He finished his career with 47 goals and 59 assists in 80 games.

Thornton Academy built momentum this season by getting off to fast starts.

“(It) was always to get on them early, pressure them as much as we can,” Skillings said.

Thornton Academy scored 52 goals in its first six games. Skillings factored in on 21 of them with nine goals and 12 assists. He notched a season-high five points, with two goals and three assists, in a 9-0 victory over Poland/Leavitt/Oak Hill/Gray-New Gloucester on Dec. 18.

Skillings, a left wing, gave credit to linemates Dominic Martin and Trent LeSieur.

“They’re not selfish,” Skillings said. “As long as we win, everybody’s happy. Whenever they make a mistake, they’re like, ‘All right, let’s work on it.’”

Coach Jamie Gagnon said that chemistry helped Skillings improve throughout his career.

“You think about him as a freshman, and how he developed the game and really brought the game as a freshman, he was great,” Gagnon said. “As he developed strength, he got a little bit better, and you’d see him (with) his level of comfort. Like I said, playing with the guys he had, he had such a good relationship with his teammates that I think he used them all well — they knew how to find him.”

Even when Skillings didn’t score, he was able to find positives.

“It’s just like, I’m still working on things, I’m still learning a bunch of stuff, (make) one more pass if I’m right there or that extra guy to get them their point,” Skillings said.

Gagnon said Skillings wanted the best for the team.

“He’s very unassuming, very much so,” Gagnon said. “Like, just wanted everything to be for the team. Everything had to be for the team. And it was always the first thing out of his mouth was … how does it impact the team? I don’t want you to do it unless it’s a positive impact to the team.”

Skillings scored the biggest goal of his career in the state championship game, on a short-handed breakway in the third period to give the Trojans a 2-1 win over Cheverus/Yarmouth.

It was a fitting end to his hockey career. He doesn’t plan to play in college.

“Honestly, it’s a really good feeling, and having (my teammates) along is something I’m never going to forget,” said Skillings. “… It’s just really like (rewarding) after like so many years of hard work and doing that to be up to that spot.”