Can Thornton Stay Hot? Maine Boys Hockey Playoffs Preview

A look at the top teams, potential surprises, and players to watch in the upcoming Maine high school boys hockey postseason.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Maine high school boys hockey playoffs begin on Tuesday, with 24 teams competing to reach the state title games on March 7. Thornton Academy, the top-ranked team in Class A, is looking to win its second straight championship and third in four years. Other top contenders include Messalonskee in Class B North and Gorham/Massabesic in Class B South. Lower-seeded teams like Lewiston, Falmouth, and Kennebunk/Wells could also make a run. Key players to watch include Alex Beckwith of Messalonskee, Bryce Bellerose of Scarborough, and Jake Skillings of Thornton Academy.

Why it matters

The Maine high school boys hockey playoffs are an exciting annual event that showcases the top talent in the state. With Thornton Academy looking to defend its title and several other teams poised to make a surprise run, this year's postseason is shaping up to be highly competitive and unpredictable.

The details

Thornton Academy finished the regular season 17-1 and is the No. 1 team in Class A, having outscored opponents 129-25. Messalonskee, the lone team to beat Thornton, is the top seed in Class B North after going 15-3. Gorham/Massabesic earned the No. 1 seed in Class B South with a 14-4 record. Cheverus/Yarmouth, the two-time defending Class B champion, moved up to Class A this year and is seeded second. Lower-seeded teams like Lewiston, Falmouth, Kennebunk/Wells, and John Bapst/Hermon/Bangor Christian could make unexpected playoff runs.

  • The Maine high school boys hockey playoffs begin on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.
  • The state title games will be held on March 7, 2026 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

The players

Thornton Academy

The top-ranked team in Class A, Thornton Academy finished the regular season 17-1 and has outscored opponents 129-25. The Trojans have won 16 straight games and have 13 players with 10 or more points this season.

Messalonskee

The lone team to beat Thornton Academy, Messalonskee is the top seed in Class B North after going 15-3 in the regular season. The Eagles will try to get over the hump after falling in the regional final last season and the quarterfinals two years ago.

Gorham/Massabesic

The Rams emerged from a competitive race to earn the No. 1 seed in Class B South with a 14-4 record. They reached the regional final last year.

Cheverus/Yarmouth

The winner of the past two Class B titles, Cheverus/Yarmouth earned the second seed in this year's Class A playoffs after moving up from Class B.

Jake Skillings

The leading scorer for Thornton Academy, Skillings had 18 goals and 27 assists in the regular season.

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What’s next

The quarterfinal round of the Maine high school boys hockey playoffs will take place on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The takeaway

This year's Maine high school boys hockey playoffs promise to be an exciting and unpredictable event, with several top teams and potential Cinderella stories vying for state championships. The move of Cheverus/Yarmouth to Class A has opened up the Class B field, setting the stage for a new champion to emerge.