Cullen Adams of South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport accepts the Travis Roy Award on Saturday from AJ Kavanaugh, the head coach of Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
AUBURN — Cullen Adams didn’t think he’d be a Travis Roy Award finalist, given all the skilled players in Class A hockey this season.
But there he was Saturday, one of four finalists delivering speeches during a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn. In his speech, Adams said that winning the award was his ultimate goal when he started playing high school hockey.
Goal reached.
The South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport forward was named the 27th winner of the Travis Roy Award, which is given to the most outstanding senior in Class A boys’ hockey.
Adams, who had 16 goals and 11 assists in 22 games this winter, also talked about his hockey idol and older brother, Mitchell, who was a Travis Roy Award semifinalist in 2019.
“Much of my work ethic came from watching him play,” said Adams, who attends South Portland High. “Having him as my captain freshman year taught me a lot about leadership and what it takes to be a captain. He undoubtedly made me a tougher hockey player, never once letting up or free (chances) on the backyard rink.”
Adams is the first Travis Roy winner for the South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op program. The Red Riots are the 15th team to have a player win the award since its inception in 1996.
“It couldn’t happen to a better kid,” South Portland Coach Joe Robinson said. “I am just so proud of him. I think. character-wise, who he is on the ice, off the ice, it’s perfect.”
The reality of winning was still setting in for Adams following the banquet.
“I was ready to give my speech, but I wasn’t really fully prepared to win, that’s for sure,” he said. “It’s a great honor. I am just so happy to represent the school and state. … To represent this award and everything it means outside of hockey is just such an honor.”
Along with Cullen and Mitchell Adams, South Portland has had two other finalists: Andrew Whipple (2015) and Liam McGibbon (2020).
Adams set the tone this season for the Red Riots, who reached the Class A semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Scarborough in overtime.
“The kids really looked up to him, they really followed him,” Robinson said. “He’s a talented offensive player, and he was the backbone of the team.”
Robinson said that Adams was an unselfish player with a high hockey IQ.
Adams will be going to Ithaca College in New York to study athletic training and play on the lacrosse team.
The other three finalists were Falmouth forward Charlie Adams, Bangor goalie Jake Hirsch and Edward Little forward Jack Keefe.
Charlie Adams tallied 10 goals and 22 assists in 20 games, while Keefe finished with 17 goals and 11 assists in 20 games.
Hirsch went 10-3 with a 1.63 goals-against-average and .943 save percentage.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Travis Roy winner was announced in person for the first time since 2019.
There was no keynote speaker this year. Instead, the Maine Class A Coaches Association, which presents the award, decided to replay the speech that Travis Roy gave during the virtual ceremony in 2020, months before Roy’s death.
Bangor Coach Quinn Paradis won the Bob Boucher Coach of the Year award. Thornton Academy received the sportsmanship award.
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