2017 | Michigan | BOYS

Dearborn Divine Child | Falcons | BOYS

It’s difficult to provide a single story as to why Nolan deserves this award. His earning this reward is based on his overall attitude and the way he represents his team and school. Nolan brings a positive energy to the team every single day – the type of energy that fuels teammates by inspiring them and unifying them.

This year we really stressed the importance of playing for each other and acknowledging the collective membership of our hockey family. No one on the team exemplified this concept quite like Nolan – a true athlete in every sense of the word – who frequently noted and proved just how different hockey was from any other sport in regard to the sense of pride and brotherhood.

If I had to recall one specific moment from this season (because he has been great in this regard for both seasons he was on the team), then I’d have to go to the minute before the third period started against Dearborn Unified when we were down 2-0. Nolan, on the bench right in front of me, turned around and calmly said, Don’t worry, Coach, we got this. His tone was not arrogant or inappropriately confident; it was just certain. There was no doubt in his voice. He turned back around and went to work in what turned out to be a thrilling 3-2 overtime win. That was the kind of difference he made on our team, though. He could reassure anyone whether it was a linemate or a coach. The best part of this story is that it isn’t the only one that would demonstrate his understated value to our program.

Edge was a huge part of this program the last two years, and we are grateful for everything he did to help everyone else who was involved with the team. He should undoubtedly be recognized for his character as a student-athlete, and quite simply, as a person.