A quiet kid by nature, Klinton Peckham isn’t afraid to step up and bring order when there is chaos. And in this year, his final one for Gardiner Area High School, there was chaos. More than he would like, but not so much he couldn’t handle as captain of the Tigers.

“We had a few incidents with players and we worked through it pretty much,” Peckham said. “I think we did pretty well with what happened. I have no regrets. I’m a pretty quiet guy, but if someone has a problem I’d go and fix it. I like to show myself on the ice. That’s how I lead, by example.”

Peckham, said coach Matt Dineen, is the perfect captain. He answers most questions with the word ‘we,’ and says winning trumps personal statistics. But Peckham still carried the team, particularly in the playoffs.

The senior leader scored 27 goals and 24 assists for 51 points this season. He eclipsed the 100-point barrier for his career and led the Tigers to the Eastern B final. As a result, Peckham is this year’s Kennebec Journal Player of the Year. Linemate Mike Hersom, Gardiner goalie Chris Howe and Maranacook-Monmouth forward Corey Palmer were also considered.

“It was my best season,” Peckham said. “I laid it all down on the ice. I gave it my all.”

And that was enough.

Peckham finished his four-year career with 101 points and saved his best work for the bigger games. He scored four goals in Gardiner’s two playoff games, including two short-handed strikes 23 seconds apart in a semifinal win over John Bapst.

“We all play better in the playoffs,” Peckham said. “In bigger games, I step up my game, too. You have to.”

Peckham said the two quick goals against Bapst stood out more than any other this season. However, his pair in the Eastern B final helped the Tigers claw back from a 2-0 deficit.

“As far as goals and assists, it took awhile for him to get warmed up,” added Dineen.

“But in the playoffs, he came to play. He’s a big-game player. He can step up and take control if he needs to. He didn’t worry about what he got for points. He punched his clock and went to work.”

Peckham was part of Dineen’s first true freshman class at Gardiner. Dineen added that Peckham played a big role with the Tigers, beginning with his freshman season, when he skated on the second line.

“He grew up in my system and adapted to it well,” Dineen said. “He has a lot of heart and determination. He stands up and comes to play. He’s always playing for the team, not Klinton Peckham.”

Peckham firmed up his future by enlisting with the U.S. Marine Corps. He leaves for basic training in South Carolina on Sept. 22. “I plan to go into security forces and see how that goes,” he said. “I’ve been planning a career in the military for a couple of years now. All my friends went into it, so I figured what the heck, I might as well. I’m looking forward to it.”

“He’s going to be a helluva Marine,” Dineen said. “He’s always calm, cool and collected. His characteristics will serve him well.”

With his high school hockey career finished, Peckham said he will miss playing with his linemates, Cam Berthieume and Hersom, the most.

“I was pretty happy with how it turned out,” he said. “It’s kind of sad not to play with my linemates anymore, but it was a good run.”

Bill Stewart — 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com