Walter Conrad, Patrick Grant, and Dan Latham were recently honored by the Class B South coaches with three of the four Player of the Month awards for December.
DECEMBER 2015 CLASS B SOUTH PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
FORWARD OF THE MONTH
Pat Grant, Yarmouth, Senior
The speedy and talented senior forward started the 2015-16 season strong, helping the Clippers get off to a 5-0-0 start in December to grab first place as the calendar turned to 2016. Grant scored 4 goals and added 7 assists in 5 games while being a plus-10, as Yarmouth established itself as the top team in the league after the opening month. He had a goal and assist in a Dec. 8 4-1 win over Gorham, a goal and two assists in a big 4-3 road win over Class A Cheverus on Dec. 17, and a goal and two assists in a 7-1 win over Cape Elizabeth on Dec. 21. He scored in each of the Clippers’ five games, adding single assists in wins over Gardiner and at Kennebunk.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE MONTH
Walter Conrad, Yarmouth, Senior
Conrad, a West B First Team 2014-15 All-Star defenseman in his junior year, started his senior season strongly with outstanding defense and timely and potent offense to help the Clippers get off to a fast start in the season’s opening month. The fast-skating and dynamic Conrad scored 5 goals and added 5 assists in Yarmouth’s 5 games in December and was a plus-11. He had a goal and an assist in the Clippers’ 4-1 win over Gorham on Dec. 8, two goals and an assist in a 5-1 road win at Kennebunk on Dec. 12. He also had the game-winning goal in a big 4-3 win at Cheverus on Dec. 17 and added a goal and two assists in the Dec. 21 win over Cape.
GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Michael Poirier, Gardiner, Junior
A three-year starter for a still relatively young Gardiner team, Poirier had a strong December in net to help the Tigers rebound from an 0-2 start and win four straight for a solid 4-2-0 record and a spot in 2nd place in the South B standings by the end of the month. After dropping low-scoring games to Yarmouth (2-0) and Gorham (3-0) to open the season, Poirier helped the Tigers gain wins over South Portland, Greely, Brunswick and Cony/Monmouth. He played every minute of every game, finishing the month with a 4-2-0 record, a .937 save percentage, and a 1.83 goals against average, which included a shutout win at Brunswick on Dec. 22.
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Dan Latham, Yarmouth, Sophomore, Goaltender
Playing his first season of varsity hockey, Latham backboned the Clippers with an inspired month in net to help the team get off to a strong start and establish itself as a top team. He played every minute of the Clippers’ 5 games in December and went 5-0-0, with a stingy 1.20 goals against average and an impressive .959 save percentage. He helped the team post wins over Class B South teams Gardiner, Gorham, Kennebunk, and Cape Elizabeth, and a big 4-2 win on the road at Cheverus on Dec. 17. Included in those wins was a first-ever varsity shutout in the Clippers season-opening 2-0 win at home over Gardiner.
