Becky Schaeffer, center, is honored during her senior season of high school at Yarmouth High School in 2006. The Maine Girls’ High School Hockey Coaches Association will award a prize in honor of Schaeffer to the top senior player in the state beginning this season.

High school girls’ hockey players in Maine finally have an award in line with Class A boys’ hockey’s Travis Roy Award.

The Maine High School Girls Hockey Association has announced the creation of the Becky Schaffer Award, which will be given to the “most outstanding senior girl hockey player in Maine high school hockey,” according to a press release.

The five candidates for the inaugural award are: Centers Bridget Roberts and Courtney Sullivan of Greely/Gray-New Gloucester, defenseman Katya Fons of St. Dominic Academy, goalie Abby Joy of Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland, and forward Evelyn Hinkley of Winslow/Gardiner.

The award is named in honor of Becky Schaffer, a 2006 graduate of Yarmouth High School who was a leading scorer for the Clippers’ girls’ club team while also playing with the boys’ varsity and JV teams during her junior and senior seasons. Schaffer played club hockey at McGill University. She died in 2011 during a hiking accident in Micronesia, where she was teaching English.

Sullivan (35 goals, 15 assists) and Roberts (25 goals, 16 assists) have combined to accumulate 91 points for the Rangers.

“I think Courtney and Bridget both stand out in terms of their presence on the ice. They hound the puck relentlessly and play strong 200-foot games,” Rangers coach Nate Guerin said. “Courtney really stands out offensively with her ability to get to the net and finish around the goal. She hit 100 goals earlier this season and has 50 points this year. Great hands, long reach, and is always thinking one step ahead.

“Bridget is not quite as flashy but is probably the hardest-working player that I’ve seen over the past four seasons. She has the ability to score but is also a back-checking maniac. She is the player that finishes first in all of our drills during practice and is a great leader for our younger girls to look up to.”

Fons, the Saints’ captain, finished the regular season with four goals and 11 assists while playing on a Saints defense that allowed just 1.39 goals per game.

“Very happy for Katya being chosen as a finalist. (She is) a great representative of the game and the character of the award,” Saints coach Paul Gosselin said. “Great competitor, strong skater, physically strong, mentally tough. Strong, stay-home defenseman.

“Good leader, leads by example, team player, well liked by the team, always positive.”

Joy compiled a 9-8-1 record for the Capers with a 3.300 goals-against average.

Hinkley scored 28 assists and assisted on 20 others for the Black Tigers.

The winner of the Becky Schaffer Award will be announced at that the Maine High School Girls Hockey Senior Game, which will be played on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Family Ice Center in Falmouth. The All-State and All-Conference teams will also be announced at the game.