LEWISTON — Glide effortlessly down ice, leaving a twisted trail of defensemen and goalies in his wake?

No problem.

Lead his Thornton Academy mates to the school’s only two state championships?

Piece of cake.

But stand up in front of a crowded room and bare his soul for an eternal three minutes?

Well, if C.J. Maksut had had his druthers, he druther not have.

No matter.

Maksut, who rewrote the Thornton record book and helped establish a platinum era in Golden Trojans hockey history, added one final glittering piece to his stellar career Sunday.

The Travis Roy Award.

Maksut walked off with the state’s most prestigious individual hockey honor.

He said that hearing his name called from among the four finalists ”“ including Biddeford defenseman Taylor Reuillard, Bangor goalie Chris Howatt and Lewiston defenseman Brandon Tiner ”“ was something he hoped would happen.

However, he hadn’t made room for it on his bookshelf.

“I wasn’t (expecting it),” he said. “I was nervous about public speaking. I was nervous the whole time. It’s unexpected, but it’s a great feeling to be chosen the best player in the state.”

If Maksut was at all shaky during his speech, which is a ritual for each TRA finalist, he didn’t let it show.

His gratitude for the life-long help he received from coaches, teammates, and of course, his parents, Jim and Deb, was as clear cut as one of his patented breakaways.

“His speech really said it, I thought,” said Jim Maksut. “About the ”˜brotherhood’ and the community. Everything. It’s what he wanted.”

“I think as much as hockey means to him, and this is the pinnacle of everything he’s worked for, we couldn’t be prouder of him, on and off the ice,” said Deb Maksut. “All of the accomplishments he’s made and the hard work he’s done, it’s got him to this point, and he can’t wish for any better way to go out of his career for high school hockey than to receive this award.”

Even so, Deb said she did hold her breath when her son took the podium, knowing that he would prefer to face a big game head on, any day.

“I think they’re both equally tough,” she said. “Both sweat inducing. But these are the kinds of things that make you stronger. He’s done well in both areas. He’s showing us that he has a future, which will hopefully include hockey.”

Maksut’s work on the ice spoke volumes.

He finished his career with 154 points (90 g, 54 a), shattering the old mark by 43 points.

“Thankfully,” said Howatt, Bangor’s goalie, “I was only responsible for two of his 150 (plus) points.”

Thornton coach Jamie Gagnon, who also coached TRA winners Tony Dube (2008) and Trevor Fleurent (2010) during his previous stop in Biddeford, said that Maksut not only possesses superior talent, but has the smarts to go with it.

“You look at the points, and you see he was just as much a puck distributor as he was a goal scorer for us,” Gagnon said. “He’s one of those guys who makes the players around him better.”

Maksut hopes to continue playing hockey in college, but will first likely spend at least one season in junior.

For now, though, he’ll try to get a little rest for his mind and body before getting back on skates.

“I’m going to see if I can lay low for a week, and finally take a break,” he said.

He’s certainly earned that much. That, and the Travis Roy Award, too.

— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535 or follow on Twitter @DanHickling.