Thu, 05/09/2024 - 5:15pm

A Camden Hills Regional High School hockey player, Owen Hotchkin, is among 43 students from across the state who have earned a Hobey Baker High School Character Award.

Each year, a senior hockey player from participating Maine high schools is selected by their coach for outstanding individual performance on and off the ice.

The award honors high school hockey players who exemplify the Hobey Baker ideal that "Character Builds Excellence." T

he Hobey Baker committee believes that character makes the game better and makes our players better. Candidates for the award are selected by their coaches based on coach-ability, strength of character, integrity, commitment, teamwork, community leadership, and outstanding sportsmanship.

“I am proud to announce the 43 Maine recipients of this year’s award” said Vin Contento, Maine Director of the Hobey Baker High School Character Award. “Established in 2003, the Hobey Baker High School Character Award recognizes character, commitment, and love of the game.”

Hobey Baker not only excelled in hockey, but in football as well at the collegiate level. He had a tradition of making his way to his opponent’s locker room to shake their hands after each contest. He despised dirty play and was penalized only twice in his college career.

“While Hobey Baker was a legendary athlete, he was also a true gentleman,” said Contento. “It’s important to recognize the same values and traits in these high school athletes and not just their on-ice abilities.

This is the 12th year Maine high school hockey has participated in the award program.

Among the winners announced today were 14 girls and 29 boys from participating high school varsity teams across the state. Winners receive a personalized commemorative plaque – and a distinction shared by some of the top players to ever hit the ice: Hobey Baker winner.

This year’s award winners appear on below.

2023-24 Hobey Baker High School Character Award Winners - Girls
Award Winner	High School(s)
Lily LeSieur	Biddeford / Thornton Academy / Wells / Kennebunk
Lily Johnson	Cheverus / Old Orchard / Windham
Eve Chace	Falmouth / Scarborough
Emerson Homa	Gorham / Bonny Eagle / Massabesic / Fryeberg / Lake Region / Westbrook
Katie Dubbert	Greely / Gray-New Gloucester
Grace Ducharme	Edward Little / Leavitt / Poland
Taylor Melvin	Lewiston / Oak Hill
Allie Hunter	Mt. Ararat / Lisbon / Morse / Medomak
Kierith Gentilini	Portland / Deering
Abby Allen	Winslow / Gardiner / Coney / Messalonskee / Lawrence / Erskine / Maranacook
Avery Buchanan	Yarmouth/ Freeport
Chloe Fallon	York / Traip Academy / Marshwood/ Noble
Georgie Davidson	St. Dominic's Academy
Kaylin Morrison	Brewer / Bangor / Hampden / Hermon / John Bapst / Old Town / Orono

2023-24 Hobey Baker High School Character Award Winners - Boys
Award Winner	High School(s)
Richie Trott	Bangor
Grady Vanidestine	Brewer / Lawrence / Skowhegan
Garrett Countway	Brunswick / Freeport
Owen Hotchkin	Camden Hills
Lucas Soutuyo	Cheverus / Yarmouth
Landon Foster	Cony / Monmouth / Erskine / Mt. Blue/ Richmond
Joe Martel	Edward Little
John Carpenter	Falmouth
Gavin White	Gardiner / Waterville / Winslow
Cameron Whittemore	Gorham
Charlie Moore	Greely
Matthew Shayne	Hampden Academy
Dawson Cole	Houlton / Hodgdon / Katahdin
Luke Getto	John Bapst / Hermon / Bangor Christian / Deer Isle-Stonington
Wilson Clough	Kennebunk / Wells
Kadan Neureuther	Fryeburg Academy / Lake Region / Oxford Hills
Cody Dionne	Lewiston
Bradley Wentworth	Marshwood / Traip / Sanford / Noble
Hunter Hallee	Messalonskee
Will Dudley	Mt. Ararat / Lisbon / Morse / Hyde
Avery Redding	Old Town / Orono
Eli Gosselin	Leavitt / GNG / Poland / Oakhill
Garett Letourneau	Presque Isle
Ryan Ravis	Scarborough
Tobey Lappin	Portland / South Portland / Deering / Wayneflete
Ridge Dionne	St. Dominic's Academy
Thomas Verreault	Thornton Academy
Aiden Toy	Windham / Westbrook / Bonny Eagle
Aidan McQuaide	York