LEWISTON — More formally, it’s called the Maine High School Coaches’ Association Annual Awards Banquet.

But it’s known to everyone as the Travis Roy Awards.

By any name, the event is the final piece of the high school hockey season and for those who love the game, it can be a bittersweet time.

While it provides an avenue to honor the highest accomplishments of the season, it also provides one last reminder that the sticks, pucks and sweaters have been stowed away until next November.

This year’s banquet on Sunday was no different.

Thornton Academy was handed the trophy it won two weeks ago as state championship victors, while the Travis Roy, which is given each year to the top senior hockey player in the state went to goaltender Cam Poussard of Lewiston, who was chosen from a field of four finalists that included Biddeford’s Nick Gagne, Thornton’s Sam Canales and St. Dom’s Alex Parker.

“I was thinking the whole time that I’m going up against the best in the State,” Poussard said. “They could have easily won this. I wish they all could have.”

Highlighting each year’s banquet are the speeches given by each of the Travis Roy Award finalists.

Canales used his to hearken back to what proved to be a pivotal moment in his hockey career, namely a word of admonishment from his father after what he felt was a lackluster effort in practice.

“I remember catching a glimpse of him as I exited the ice,” Canales said. “There was something odd about his facial expression, and I was dreading the car ride home. He broke the silence with the words, ”˜how come you weren’t skating, tonight.’ He explained that if I tried my hardest in everything I did, I wouldn’t have any regrets. It made what was a two-minute ride home seem like a five-day adventure cross country.

“In the practices that followed, I made sure I finished every drill first with the sole purpose of earning my dad’s approval. Through the years, I began to see the purpose of my dad’s talk.”

Gagne, who was part of two state championship teams at Biddeford, spoke of the impact that older teammates such as Brian Dumoulin, Trevor Fleurent, Tyler Audie and Joe White had on him.

“When I first arrived at high school little did I know what lay ahead of me,” he said. “The team had won the (title) the year before, and I knew that my work had been cut out for me, if I wanted to get ice time as a freshman. Not only did I make the team, but I was paired up with Brian Dumoulin (now a standout at Boston College). Brian really helped me make that transition into high school and grow as a defenseman. In my sophomore year, I found myself in a new role of having to mentor new defensemen, just as Brian had done for me.

“Who could ask for more.”

The All-State teams were announced, with six Trojans and five Tigers named among the Tier I first team selections.

They include Canales, Jon Pate, C.J. Maksut, Ryan Locke, Tyler Danley and Jay Finch from Thornton.

Biddeford representatives include Gagne, Eric Grover, Brady Fleurent, Scott Callahan and Bryan Dallaire.

Locals who made the Tier II/III All State team were D.J. Robinson, Jack Kennedy, Ned Richard and Jordon Kadlik (all of Biddeford), and Massabesic goalie Kyle Maclay.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com or follow on Twitter @DanHickling.