2023 | New Jersey | BOYS

Ocean Township High School Ice Hockey | Spartans | BOYS

In an age where many student athletes feel that they deserve playing time just because they are an upperclassman, it is rare to see a player embrace their role if it is that of a secondary player. Dylan Lazar is a baseball pitcher. He played travel hockey as a youth and then went in the direction of grass fields and sunshine. During his sophomore season, some of his friends on the hockey team convinced him to pull his gear out of the closet and come out for the team. While, obviously, his skills were where they left off after he transitioned to baseball, his work ethic, support for his teammates and his constant smile were ever present. In limited ice time during his sophomore and junior seasons, he scored 2 goals and 5 assists. While watching players younger than him get regular shifts, he never showed any sign of discontent. When told at the beginning of a conference tournament game that we might not be able to get him in, his response was that he was just happy to be there. The smile on his face proved that he meant it. This season, his final with the team and most likely in organized hockey, our roster has been hampered by injuries since day one. That sometimes elusive opportunity came, and Dylan was pushed into a regular shift and played in situations that probably exceeded his comfort zone. He responded by scoring 4 goals and adding 7 assists; more than doubling his output of the previous two seasons combined. His coachability is off the charts and his positive attitude is infectious. He is exactly the type of player that this award exemplifies, and I am proud to nominate him for the Hobey Baker High School Character Award.