SACO — Hockey synergy can be a beautiful thing.
In the case of C.J. Maksut, it certainly was.
The dynamic winger ended his four-year Thornton Academy career much the way he began it: With a three-goal hat trick.
Then he walked away with a second state championship medal, the 2012 Travis Roy Award, and now, recognition as the Journal Tribune’s Hockey Player of the Year.
He shared the same honor last year with Biddeford’s Brady Fleurent, after scoring the game-winner in double overtime in last year’s championship game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Thornton coach Jamie Gagnon, who coached against Maksut for two years while an assistant at Biddeford. “Not only his on-ice performance, but off ice. His character. His academics aspect is tremendous. I just think he’s a well-rounded personality, and a personality that brings a team together.”
Robbie Downing, one of those team members, was in full agreement.
“He’s an amazing goal scorer,” said Downing. “An amazing passer. An amazing all around player. He brings a lot to this team. Not only leadership, but team camaraderie. He’s just an awesome person. I couldn’t ask for a better teammate.”
Downing certainly never had a more prolific one.
Maksut shredded the school record book with his goal-scoring and point-getting proficiency.
His 154 career points (90 g, 64 a) shattered the previous standard of 110 points.
Maksut began his assault on those marks in his first varsity game, when he scored three times against Brunswick at the old Dayton Arena.
And his penchant for playing bigger than his 5-foot-9 stature came to the fore in the biggest games.
His three-goal outburst against St. Dominic in the title game went a long way to putting a second championship ring on the fingers of his teammates.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Maksut. “I wanted to do some offense for the team. I felt like that’s my role. With three goals, I was able to do that for the team.”
He did that, and a whole lot more ”“ and he has more to do.
With his abundance of skills, speed and desire, Maksut said he is bent on drawing interest at the Division I college level.
First, though, he’ll likely play at least a season of Tier III junior, before making any decisions.
“I want to play at the next level,” Maksut said. “I’m going to focus on hitting the gym and gaining weight, so I can play junior hockey next year.”
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535.
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