2023 | Rhode Island | BOYS

Toll Gate High School | Titans | BOYS

When it comes to the definition of the Hobey Baker award, I could not picture any player exemplifying those characteristics better than Jacob does. He is a player who will do anything a coach or teammate asks of him. Someone who works hard every time he steps on the ice. He is a stand out student, teammate, athlete, and young man.
Jacob came in his freshman year, a young, small forward who showed hard work and hockey smarts right from the start. Due to team depth, we needed to move a player to defense. Jacob was the first person to come to mind. With no questions asked, he accepted this new role and did whatever it took to better the team. Since then, I have moved Jacob back and forth from forward to defense about a dozen times over the course of four years, and every time the answer still remains “yes coach, whatever puts the team in the best place to be successful”.
In his freshman year, Jacob had an unfortunate turn to his year when he broke his hip in a varsity game. This type of injury and scare could be detrimental to a lot of players careers. Not Jacob. He did everything he could to be ready for the following year, where he again did whatever it took to be the best team player.
I often kid around with him , telling him he needs to be “more selfish” on the ice, take more shots and not try to set up his teammates all the time. He will be missed by all coaches and teammates of Warwick hockey, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Overall, the ability of Jacob balancing being a role model student, teammate, player, and person is in fact the reason why he is not only our team captain, but most deserving of this prestigious Hobey Baker award.