2023 | Minnesota | BOYS

Maple Grove | Crimson | BOYS

Hobey Baker Award –

Quality 1: Passion for the Game
Excellence is an all the time thing. Beck Picconatto team Asst Captain walks this daily as a person, student, and an athlete. His character and integrity are second-to-none and do not waiver. He plays hockey because he loves the game and everything that it gives to a person. From the joy of playing to the camaraderie with teammates, to the competition from the opponent to the desire to become the best player he can be – He loves it all. It is vividly seen in his attitude, His approach, and his journey over the last three years. Beck has worked extremely hard over the past three years as a varsity player and ultimately the Senior team assistant captain. Adversity builds character and character builds excellence is a saying that comes to mind when I think about his hockey journey. Beck became determined and relentless in his own development. He put in many extra hours during the season as well as in the off-season. Beck understands the commitment and sacrifice needed to accomplish goals as well as the patience and belief in oneself that is needed to reach them. As his hockey coach, I have seen these attributes illuminate Beck’s character and enjoyed watching his growth from a youth player to a varsity hockey player. He is a complete team player and focuses all his efforts on team success. He always accepts his role and is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure success. Beck combines an excellent work ethic, selfless team first attitude, a commitment to his work, and passion for the game to become a model athlete to coach. He always finds the positives and continues to work through adversity. Beck never settles and will do whatever it takes to be successful. He never takes a short-cut and plays the game the right way; demonstrating that he understands sportsmanship and playing with integrity. Beck is excellence and displays this in his character, sportsmanship, and love of the game of hockey.

Quality 2: Willingness to Make Sacrifices for the Team
Beck is selfless. He plays for the love of the game rather than playing time, accolades, assists, goals, or awards. Daily he provided an example and reminder to us all that hockey is about the team, hockey is about learning, hockey is about the process, and hockey is about the experience. He understands what it takes to compete as he is not the biggest, but he is the toughest He accepts his role, always comes to the rink ready to practice or play with a positive attitude and a strong desire for fierce competition. Beck does not take a drill, shift, practice, or game for granted. He takes it all in and loves what this game and his teammates can give to make the team better. He is the type of athlete that makes coaches stay in coaching.

Quality 3: Demonstrates Leadership Qualities
Beck is a quiet leader. He leads with his work ethic. He leads with his attitude. He leads with his selflessness. He leads with his passion for this game. Beck will also lead with his voice and his actions. He doesn’t say a lot but when he does talk, his teammates listen. Beck’s teammates that play every game respect his, play for his not allowing a missed shift or a change in line combinations to change their attitude. I believe it is because Beck never complains, is always one of the first to the rink, does extra, is a fierce competitor and is grateful daily.

Beck is coachable. He listens and makes changes when we talk to the whole group, when we talk to just to the defensemen and when we talk individually to him. When Beck plays, He is a player who is a stabilizer – plays simple, doesn’t make many mistakes and is always where he needs to be. His character and integrity are of the highest of order and they do not waiver. He finds a positive in everything and is a fierce competitor who never settles. Beck is always making sure players are accountable and doing what they should be doing to make the team better. Finally, and most important Beck maintains a 4.0 GPA and is the number 1 student in a class of over 2000 students. Absolutely amazing !!!