i HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gardiner's Hersom fills leadership role
Morning Sentinel
HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gardiner's Hersom fills leadership role
BY BILL STEWART
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 03/27/2009

BY BILL STEWART

Staff Writer

For the first time in his high school hockey career, Gardiner Area High School junior Mike Hersom had to stand up and take charge of his line.

"This was my first year without Klinton Peckham on my line," Hersom said. "This was my first year where I had to stand up on my own. It was going to be tough without Klinton because he was such a talented player. But I was confident I could stand up and be my own person."

Did he ever.

Hersom scored a team-high 41 points on 24 goals and 17 assists to lead a Tigers team that reached the Eastern B semifinals. For his steady and strong season, Hersom has been named the Kennebec Journal Hockey Player of the Year. Cony senior defenseman Chris Logan, MHW Hawks forward Jake Levesque and Gardiner junior defenseman Forrest Chadwick were also considered.

"It was a good year to break out," Hersom said. "I had to do all the playmaking decisions for myself. It was all about the confidence. I felt this year I had to step it up and score more goals. I thought I did it pretty well."

The Tigers (14-5-0) were rich with experience and depth this season, two big reasons they finished behind only John Bapst in Eastern B. However, Gardiner fell to rival Winslow in the Eastern B semifinals, bringing a quick end to the season.

Hersom said the loss was difficult to absorb, but that the team still enjoyed a terrific season.

"We had a pretty good regular season, but it was hard to stay composed all the time," he said.

"Composed" is one word Gardiner coach Matt Dineen used to describe the play of his point-producing forward.

"Mike is a hockey player in mind and in body," he said. "He understands space and movement and how to put them together to create opportunities on the ice.

"Mike is just a player, and he also makes everyone around him better."

Last season, Hersom skated with Peckham, who led the team with more than 50 points. Hersom said he learned a lot from playing with Peckham.

"He was a goal scorer and I was a playmaker," Hersom said. "He looked for passes from me and it really was a cooperative learning. The past two years I have been more of an assist man with Klinton. He'd score the majority and I'd set him up. I learned a lot from him."

Dineen said Hersom returned the favor this season by working with linemate Cam Berthiaume.

"Mike challenges other people around him to get better," Dineen said. "He and Cam Berthiaume worked really well, just like Mike did with Klinton Peckham. Mike was instrumental getting Cam on the same page. He tutored him."

Added Hersom, who will be a captain next season: "I tried to be more of a leader off the ice, but my leadership on the ice showed up more."

The Tigers skated 11 seniors this season and will feature a new-look team next season. Gone will be both goalies, Chris Howe and Tony Plourde, as well as talented forwards Peter Caradonna, Zoe Fisk, Kevin May, and Berthiaume, among others.

"I do put pressure on myself," Hersom said, "and next year there will be even more. But it should be a good year."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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