2019 | Florida | BOYS

Spanish River/West Boca | Bull Sharks | BOYS

Rio DiPerna, embodies the spirit and the entire reason for the Hobey Baker award. Since his freshman year, Rio has exhibited, character, a positive attitude, a commitment to his team, his coaches, and his family that is far and above well beyond his years. His leadership skills are based on leading by example, and his teammates, and coaches, quickly realized that Rio is a very, very, special young man. When a simple request for volunteers for Learn to Skate, and USA Hockey and the NHL Panther Alumni Learn to try Hockey programs, Rio was always the first, and sometimes only member of the team to sign up and show up. Because of his leadership, on and off the ice, he was a selected by his coaches to be a Captain of the Bull Sharks, a role that he will continue in as a Senior next year. He is one of only 2 Captains in team history, to wear the C, and lead the team as both a Junior and a Senior, and it is incredibly well deserved. I am honored, and humbled to be able to coach this special young man, and to become friends with both him, and his supportive and very proud mom and dad. For this reason, we are very pleased to select Rio DiPerna as our recipient of the Hobey Baker award this year.