Citizen recognizes top teams & athletes of 2021

The CHS boys soccer team won 4 straight tournament games to qualify for its 1st ever state final.

The Canton Citizen is pleased to announce its selections for top CHS teams and athletes of 2021. All award winners, along with honorable mentions, rookies of the year, and other sports highlights from the past year were featured in the January 6 print edition as part of the Citizen’s annual year in review.

Male Team of the Year

CHS Boys Soccer: One of the top feel-good sports stories in recent school history, the Canton High boys varsity soccer team transformed from a Davenport contender with promise to the darlings of the MIAA postseason after an unforgettable run to the brink of a state championship. Led by a stellar senior class and the lethal attacking trio of Jake McCabe, Erik Valdovinos and Jacob Crugnale, the Bulldogs reeled off four straight upset road victories — including a thrilling, OT win over top-seeded East Longmeadow — to punch its ticket to the program’s first ever D2 state final. While they would fall just short against eventual champion West Springfield, the Bulldogs ended the year as one of the hottest teams in the state (11-2-2) and were far and away the lowest seeded team (No. 21) to advance to a title game this fall.

Female Team of the Year

CHS Field Hockey: A perennial Hockomock contender and MIAA postseason fixture, the Canton High field hockey team bounced back from an 0-2 start to enjoy one of its most successful seasons in recent memory. In addition to reclaiming the Davenport Division title, the Bulldogs won 16 of their final 18 games before bowing out in the D2 Sweet 16 against a tough Reading team. The highlight of the season was a 14-game winning streak in which the girls looked nearly unstoppable, outscoring the opposition by a 51-1 margin.

All-CHS 2021 First Team

Allie McCabe (MVP): Incredibly gifted yet somehow still underrated, McCabe (’22) did nothing but produce across three varsity seasons last year, earning league all-star honors in ice hockey and lacrosse to go along with an all-league honorable mention in soccer. Perhaps best known for her elite skills on the ice as a shutdown defenseman, McCabe excelled in a similar role on the soccer pitch, drawing praise as the Bulldogs’ defensive anchor and a steady all-around contributor. In the spring, McCabe got a chance to show off some of her offensive and playmaking capabilities as a do-it-all midfielder for the girls lacrosse team. “She was always at her best,” raved lacrosse coach Dani Aquino. “She never quit, put up the best numbers, and was a vital player and a role model in every way.”

Deyontai Dennis (MVP): One of the most accomplished and versatile athletes in CHS track history, Dennis (’21) capped off a stellar four-year career with a senior season for the ages. In addition to setting multiple school records and winning an indoor league title in the high jump, he went on to dazzle in his final high school postseason, capturing the D2 sectional crown in the 400 hurdles while placing second and fourth, respectively, in the triple jump and long jump. He also qualified for and competed in all three events at the MIAA All-States — a “super rare” accomplishment that head coach Anna Amico said was reflective of Dennis’ elite athleticism, unflinching work ethic, and passion for the sport of track and field.

Maddie Rousseau: A CHS track legend, Rousseau (’21) won back-to-back league titles (indoor/outdoor) and a Division 2 sectional crown in the 100m hurdles; broke a slew of school records (100m, 200m, 100 hurdles); and powered the girls 4×100 relay team to a sixth place finish at All-States.

Dylan Coyne: An all-league honoree in both ice hockey and lacrosse, Coyne (’21) helped lead both squads to a Hockomock Davenport Division title as the teams combined for a jaw-dropping record of 25-2-1. His work in the cage also proved instrumental in the lacrosse team’s run to the D2 south semis and he was the runaway choice for 2021 Davenport MVP.

Carolyn Durand: One of the region’s top high school hockey netminders, Durand (’23) earned her second consecutive Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection after a brilliant sophomore season that culminated with another Hockomock title. She went on to duplicate that success in her debut season with the Davenport champion field hockey team, allowing just 13 goals in 20 games while collecting a whopping 15 shutouts.

Jake McCabe: An elite soccer talent, McCabe (’23) earned All-Hockomock and All-Eastern Mass. honors after a brilliant 2021 campaign in which he helped carry the Bulldogs to the brink of a state title. A lethal attacking player, he produced several highlight-reel goals and finished one point shy of the league scoring crown with 16 goals and 9 assists.

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