Messalonskee High School senior Sam Dexter says at times this season he was in a zone, locked into leading the Eagles to what would be a first regional championship in program history.

Coach Mike Latendresse disagreed, saying Dexter was focused from opening practice through the Class B state championship game against Greely.

“Sammy was in the zone all season, not just part of it,” he said. “He just had a fantastic season. The numbers speak for themselves.”

Dexter scored a single-season school record 48 goals and added 31 assists to finish with 79 points in 22 games.

For his accomplishments this season, Dexter is the Morning Sentinel Hockey Player of the Year. Linemate Chase Cunningham and Messalonskee goalie Nate DelGiudice were also considered.

Dexter led the Messalonskee program to its first regional championship. The Eagles beat two-time defending Eastern B champ Brewer 5-2 in the regional final before losing 6-2 to Greely in the state final. The top-line forward scored two key goals against Brewer and added another against Greely.

Dexter says the bigger the game, the better he becomes.

“Big-time players play well in big-time games,” he said. “I pride myself a little bit off that saying.”

And with good reason.

He led the Eagles with eight game-winning goals.

“The biggest games matter the most,” Dexter said. “We were the only (hockey) team to win an Eastern Maine title at Messalonskee. You’ll always remember the last game you played, unfortunately, but the game with Brewer was one of the biggest games I’ve ever played in. It was a marquee victory in the program. Hopefully, the program is on the rise.”

Dexter gave the Eagles a lift all season, establishing himself as one of the best players in Class B, if not the entire state. He was a force at both ends of the ice and a focal point of opposing team’s game plans.

Above all, Latendresse said, Dexter was almost like another coach on the ice.

“He makes everyone around him better,” he said. “He puts a lot of pressure on himself to do well. It’s rare to see a quality player who has the mental game that he has.”

Dexter, who will play baseball at the University of Southern Maine next year, says he usually sets goals for himself prior to every season. But this was no usual year.

“I set goals in every sport,” Dexter said. “But this year was a little different. I felt as a team we had a chance to go far. We had one goal and that was to win a state championship. We did a great job getting to the game itself. Individually, I didn’t want to set any standards.”

Still, 48 goals ranked him at the top of Eastern B.

“I was not expecting 48 goals,” Latendresse said. “It’s unbelievable. But Sammy is an unbelievable player. I expected him to lead this team, and he did. Over the last four years, especially the last couple years, he matured into this man. He was a leader in every sense of the word.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5640

bstewart@centralmaine.com

Copy the Story Link