The Messalonskee High School Eagles from Oakland found themselves trailing Gorham 2-1 after two periods of last season’s state Class B championship game.
But junior center Jared Cunningham erupted for three third-period goals to lead the Eagles to their second straight state championship, 7-2.
Jared Cunningham is one of five players to watch in Class A and Class B North this season.
He will be joined on the list by linemate Brandon Nale, Lewiston forwards Jeromey Rancourt and Kyle Morin and Bangor goalie Derek Fournier.
Cunningham will enter this season just 34 points shy of breaking his brother Chase’s career record for points at Messalonskee.
Cunningham, a senior, has 93 goals and 129 assists for 222 points after coming off a season in which he scored 32 goals and assisted on 47 others.
He was Eastern Maine Class B’s Player of the Year.
“He sees the ice real well and he has great hands,” said Messalonskee coach Joe Hague. “He has good hockey sense and he’s not afraid to do the gritty stuff.”
Cunningham has a quick release on his shot and he is accurate with it. He is also elusive and has good ice balance. His nifty feet enable him to spin off checks and make plays.
“He’s a fabulous player who makes all the players around him better,” said Waterville coach Dennis Martin.
Nale, who is a junior, had a breakthrough season last year with 37 goals and 41 assists. He was a nice complement to Cunningham and Jake Dexter.
“Brandon plays more of a physical game than Jared,” said Hague, who expects Nale to take his game to an even higher level this season.
Hague said Nale also has impressive hands, a good shot and a high hockey IQ.
“He’s strong, fast and has as hard a shot as any I’ve seen in high school hockey,” said Presque Isle coach Carl Flynn.
Rancourt, who is also a junior, led the Blue Devils in scoring as a sophomore last season as he scored 16 goals and also provided 12 assists.
“He’s strong, he has silk hands, a great shot and a quick release,” said Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau. “And his vision is outstanding.”
“He’s a great athlete,” said Bangor coach Quinn Paradis.
Morin is the prototype, strong two-way forward who had 11 goals and seven assists for the Blue Devils. He is tenacious on the puck.
“He is a true power forward who brings everything to the table,” said Belleau.
“He’s a very good player,” said Paradis. “He is skilled, he is quick and he has good hands.”
Fournier, as a sophomore last winter, compiled a 2.10 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage for the Rams a year ago which earned him an All-Eastern Maine Class A first team berth.
Paradis considers Fournier the state’s top goalie and Bangor senior center Trevor DeLaite said Fournier did a “great job.”
“He kept us in a lot of games. It’s good to have somebody steady back there,” said DeLaite.
Fournier came up with one of his best performances of the season in the Class A East semifinals, making 31 saves in a 1-0 loss to Lewiston.