High school field hockey players who wrapped up their playing careers last October will enjoy one more night on the turf before they are forced to call it quits.

The annual McNally Senior All-Star Game is scheduled for noon Saturday at Thomas College. For the fifth consecutive year, the game is part of the Maine Field Hockey Association’s annual field hockey festival which draws teams from around the state for a day of round-robin games beginning at 8:30 a.m.

In the past, the all-star game was its own standalone event, but the MFHA wanted to draw more attention to the players and the event in recent years, according to MFHA spokesperson Chelsea Fournier.

This year’s McNally Senior All-Star Game will be played as a benefit for Camp Sunshine in Casco, a camp hosting children and their families facing life-threating illnesses.

At its heart, the game is a chance for the majority of the players to play one final game.

“That’s really what it is,” said Paula Doughty, coach of the Class A state champion Skowhegan program, one of three coaches for the North all-star team. “For most of them, it will be the last game they ever play, and it’s really an eclectic kind of group.”

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The Indians, who have won 16 state field hockey championships and 13 of the last 15, will be well represented. Brooke Michonski, who scored twice in the 3-1 win over Thornton in the state title game last October, is joined by teammates Leah Kruse and Lauren LeBlanc on Saturday.

Kruse, a goalkeeper, is headed to Bentley University to continue her playing career.

“I always look forward to this game,” Doughty said. “For me, I have three seniors, and it’s a chance to spend a little more time with them.”

Doughty will be joined on the sidelines by coaches Mary Beth Bourgoin (Winslow) and Nancy Hughes (MCI).

Other players on the North roster include three from Winslow who won the Class C state championship as juniors before earning state runner-up honors in Class B as seniors in Jessica Greeley, Ciera Poulin and Delaney Wood.

Messalonskee will be represented by Riley Field and Emily Hogan. Field is headed to the University of Maine to play field hockey.

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“It’s kind of cool because I’ve watched other players play in this game in the past, so it will be cool to finally be a part of it,” Field said. “I think it’s going to be super fun. You’ve got all those athletes that were once competitors that now you’ll get a chance to play with.”

Class C state champion MCI will have Taylor Hall in the North lineup, while Gardiner’s Nickyia Lovely and Maddy Beaulieu will also participate.

Lilla Tilton-Flood and Lauren Watson of Lawrence are on the North squad, as well.

Kylee Veilleux will represent Oak Hill on the South all-star team. The Raiders were the Class C runners up last season.

There are no practices ahead of time for the game, which can be an adventure.

“We all just show up,” Field said. “I know some people haven’t picked up a stick since the fall, so it should be interesting out there.”

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In the past, the game has generated between $1,500-2,000 for Camp Sunshine, according to Fournier.

“Even if you didn’t know about the camp, you’re still playing for something,” Field said. “When you realize that, having it be a fundraiser for that camp is pretty amazing.”

Travis Barrett — 621-5621

tbarrett@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TBarrettGWC


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