Thornton Academy players celebrate what they thought was the first goal of the game against Lewiston in a Class A semifinal on Tuesday. The goal was disallowed, but the Trojans advanced to the Class A final with a 1-0 win. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The Thornton Academy boys hockey team is back. Back in the Class A final. Back at Cross Insurance Arena, its second home of sorts.

Since the Maine Principals’ Association moved the Class A semifinals and championship games to Portland in 2022, the Golden Trojans (16-3-1) have followed. Thornton has advanced to at least the Class A semifinals in four straight seasons, including three title game appearances. The Golden Trojans will play Kents Hill (12-7-1) for the Class A title at 1 p.m. Saturday

Regardless of classification, Thornton is the only boys hockey team to reach every final four in that time frame.

“I think it’s awesome to be able to have that opportunity, to be able to make it to the Cross (Insurance Arena) every single year,” Thornton senior defenseman Reichen Crossetti said.

Coach Jamie Gagnon, who is in his second stint at Thornton, has won four state championships — two with Biddeford (2007, 2008) and two with the Trojans (2012, 2023).

Gagnon first coached Thornton during the 2011-12 season, which ended with a Class A championship. He stepped down after the 2016-17 season to spend more time with his family. He returned to the Golden Trojans for the 2020-21 season.

Gagnon said that in the beginning, the challenge was to get the program to compete with the more traditional powers of Maine high school hockey.

“Yeah, I think our ultimate goal back then was to make sure that we could embrace success in the South, right?” Gagnon said. “It was always forever in the North, whether it’s Waterville, Bangor, Lewiston, (or) St. Dom’s. So back in those days, it was just about creating teams that could be more successful down here and be more competitive so we can go out there and have a chance. That’s all we were trying to do.”

Twelve of the last 19 Class A champions have come from the South region.

Thornton Academy players celebrate after time expired in a 1-0 win over Lewiston in a Class A semifinal Tuesday in Portland. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Kents Hill coach Bill Desmarais lives in Saco and said he’s seen the growth of the Thornton program over the years. His stepsons, Shane and Spencer Bergeron, played for the Golden Trojans.

Desmarais noted that Thornton’s younger players aren’t stuck watching from the bench or playing before they are ready because the program has a junior varsity team. More and more Maine programs don’t have the luxury of developing younger talent at the lower level.

“And, you know, when you have that feeder system, it’s huge, right?” Desmarais said. “A lot of these schools, Lewiston and St. Dom’s, Edward Little, like these big schools, Biddeford, you know, they don’t have JV programs anymore. So it’s hard to take those freshmen and sophomores and slide them into that varsity role when there’s not a JV team for them to play on.”

Thornton Academy’s junior varsity team went undefeated this winter and captured the Andre Casavant Memorial Cup, given to the top JV team in the state.

Seven players on this year’s varsity team were a part of the 2023 state championship squad. They say having that experience will help in Saturday’s title game.

“It’s huge. I mean, we’ve built a lot of chemistry,” said senior Cam Cyr, whose team is 10-2-1 in its last 13 games. “We know how to play with each other. We’re all great friends in the locker room, away from the ice. I mean, it’s great. I wouldn’t ask for anything better.”