2018 | Colorado | BOYS

Cherry Creek | Bruins | BOYS

When I thinking of Hobey Baker and what his legacy means, it’s my honor to nominate a player like Brendan Oren of Cherry Creek High School. When I think of the Hobey Baker award certain characteristics come to mind. I think of a player that is team first, self motivated, unselfish, and determined to do everything possible for the greater good of his or her team. Those characteristics perfectly describe Brendan.

Brendan was not the best player on our team, nor was he the most talented. But, what he brought in unselfishness and determination, hard work and grit, and just an overall positive attitude was priceless for us. Brendan’s attitude is the cornerstone for every team, he’s the player that every coach wants.

Here is why I think Brendan is perfect for the Hobey Baker award. I think that it’s easy to have a positive attitude and an upbeat perspective when everything is going your way. It’s easy to have the right thing to say when everything is going as planned. But, we had a tough season this year. We didn’t have to success of our past, it seemed like we weren’t getting all the bounces. And there was Brendan. On the bench, in the locker room, on the ice, he just kept this positive attitude and encouraged everyone to keep pushing on. The game would be flying back and forth on the ice, and Brendan would be on the bench and the ice verbally pushing his teammates, winning every race for the puck, actually being the first forward backchecking. This, to me, is everything the Hobey Baker Award stands for.

It is absolutely MY honor to write this, I am proud to have coached a player like Brendan.