By Justin Pelletier, Staff Writer

LEWISTON — One last moment in the spotlight for Kyle Smith ended in bliss Sunday when the senior captain of the Edward Little High School hockey team was named the recipient of the 2004 Travis Roy Award as the state’s best all-around senior hockey player.

“I was so nervous up there,” Smith said as the banquet room at the Ramada Inn started to clear. “I think I need to go to school for more public speaking lessons, or something.”

But while nervous on stage in front of more than 300 parents, players and coaches from around the state, it was the ice that Smith used as his stage during the season. And there, he was never nervous.

“This is just a real prestigious award,” Smith said. “A lot of people have won this award in the past and gone on to play in great places and have done great things. There are a lot of expectations that come with this, now.”

During the season, Smith played in 24 league games and in seven non-league games. In those 31 games, he had 58 goals and 46 assists for 104 points, an average of 3.35 points per game.

“For Kyle to win this award, with Dan (Bartlett of NYA) and Mark (Rogers of Mt. Ararat) also nominated as finalists, both of which are just as deserving, says a lot about what he has meant not only to Edward Little hockey, but to Maine high school hockey,” EL coach Jamie Belleau said. “What he has accomplished with almost 300 points in four years, has to be close to a record, at least at Edward Little, and add to that two state titles with a letter on his sweater. That’s just an amazing career.”

It was an amazing night for other Edward Little skaters, as well. Three players, Smith, Colby Gilbert and Mert Gould, were named to the All-State team, and three others, Kris Bennett, Matt Couturier and Joel Pepin, were named to the All-East team.

“I really think, and of course I am biased here, but I really think, with the record we had in league, that this has to be one of the best teams of all time in the state of Maine,” Belleau said. “The fact that they also all have now won two state titles together is just incredible.”

Lewiston and St. Dom’s were not forgotten Sunday. The Blue Devils placed defenseman Scott Geoffroy and forward Jason Dube on the All-State team, and three more — goalie Nick Langlais, forward Adam Longchamps and defenseman Tyler Richard — on the All-East team. Brandon Gervais, Mike Carpenter, Ryan Guerin, Shawn Longley and Josh Dwinal were named to the All-East team for St. Dom’s.

“This year you had three local teams in the final four in the state,” Lewiston coach Tim Smith said. “With all sorts of other communities around the state starting to climb the hockey ladder, and with rinks popping up across the state, it’s good to see that there is still strength in the Twin Cities.”

In all, five of the 17 members of the All-State team, and 11 of the 18 members of the All-East team attend school in Lewiston or Auburn.

Other All-State players included goaltenders Aaron Buzzell of Bangor and Ray Quatrucci of Portland. Rogers and Bartlett also made the team, as did NYA’s Matt Curran.

Brandon Wohl of South Portland, Kevin Marchesi of Cheverus, Ty Hobbs of Falmouth, Rory Beard of Portland, Nolan Gagne of Skowhegan, Nick Payson of Bangor and Phil Pinkham of Massabesic rounded out the team.

As for Smith, who will play hockey with the Manchester Junior Monarchs in Manchester, N.H., next season, the trophy and the award will remain close to him, quite literally.

“It’s going right next to my bed,” Smith said. “This is unbelievable. The other guys in this were just as good as I am if not better.”