2014 | California | BOYS

De La Salle High School | De La Salle High School Spartans | BOYS

Derek deserves this award for being a great Captain for the inaugural season for De La Salle Spartans High School Hockey. He is a great leader as well as an outstanding hockey player with sportsmanship and love for the game. He was basically my assistant coach with his knowledge for the game and his ability to teach the game to his teammates. He plays 16AA for Capital Thunder, and in playing High School Hockey, he wasn’t there to score all the goals but was there to play the game with respect and having fun with his schoolmates/teammates. He is well respected from the school staff, coaching staff, parents, and referees.
           Playing for De La Salle we gave respect to our opponents, never blowing a team out, never hitting a player who is not their size or skill, and playing to win the game with his teammates. One example is when one of our players had never scored a goal, Derek tried for three shifts doing anything he can for his teammate to score a goal. It wasn’t till the last shift and last minute of the game to help his senior teammate score his first and last goal for his High School Hockey year. Seeing them celebrating together is one of the top memories of my coaching career.
           For De La Salle to reach the semi-finals against Dublin High, it was a team effort and a great last game for our team as well as Derek’s last game at De La Salle. Derek was the first person to join me in the effort to donate +350 jackets to Harbor House in Oakland during the winter. Myself, Derek, and his teammates gave jackets themselves to the City of Oakland and also played street hockey with the Harbor House Kids.
           He is a great student/athlete as well as a teammate, Captain, and is loved by many parents.