2022 | Minnesota | GIRLS

Wayzata High School | Trojans | GIRLS

Growing up in the Williamson family (my grandfather being Murray Williamson who helped created this prestigious award at the college level and my father being Dean Williamson who has been a part of the game at every level for decades). I know all there is about the Hobey Baker Award and the type of individuals that are selected to win every year. I have also come to learn from my Grandpa and Father that it is once in a blue moon where you come across a player that just has a little something extra special about them. It’s not skill or status. It’s authentic and true character, and the way they impact people’s lives on and off the rink, which is why I have found myself here to tell you about this once in a blue moon player I have been fortunate enough to coach.

After my playing career ended at the University of Minnesota, I decided to follow in my Grandpa and Father’s footsteps and start my coaching career at Wayzata High School. It was there where I met Mallory Coffin. Mal has been a part of my varsity team since I first started coaching in 2019. As a Sophomore, she surpassed our expectations both on and off the ice with her commitment, love for the game and her teammates, determination, and resilience. In her Junior year, the team selected her as team captain and it was in her Junior season where I was blown away at her god gifted ability to lead. Even when I think back to all the teams I have been a part of, I cannot believe how remarkable of a leader Mallory is at such a young age. I would best describe her as a servant leader, every single day (whether that be at the rink, in school, or in her community) Mallory sets the bar for her teammates in what it looks like to live out your purpose in life and use your gifts to better the people around you. Her teammates lean on her in life and in the rink because of strength she has and the way she carries herself through her own life struggles.

When trying to pick a single story to share with you to give you a glimpse of the character of Mallory Coffin, it was incredibly tough to decide. Mallory’s consistent growth throughout her high school career has been exponential compared to her teammates, but it was in her senior season where she faced with adversity and suffering that very few people experience in their lifetime. And yet, Mal still overcame it with her strong values and clear sense of self. Mallory is the type of player that was on the path to playing division 1 college hockey. But, that quickly came to a haul when doctors found a buldging disc on her L5 S1. This diagnosis should have taken her out of the game, even her doctors advised her not to play, but through physical therapy and other treatments Mallory found a way to come back and play the game she loves, with teammates she has played with her entire life. Even though this may seem like a Cinderella story, it isnt. Mal still experiences pains from this injury frequently but refuses to let it stop her and her team’s goal to making it to the State Tournament since 2005. Her strength and toughness is inspiring to her teammates and coaches. It was not too long after this diagnosis when they also discovered she had cysts on her vocal cords which was causing her the inability to breathe along with a rare vocal cord dysfunction and extreme level of asthma. Receiving news like this in general (not to mention in the middle of a pandemic) was difficult to navigate, yet it didn’t affect Mal and the goals she had her mind set on.

The amount of burden Mal can carry on her shoulders at the age of 17 is remarkable. She handles her own struggles with such grace, while always being their to help, love , and support her family, friends, and teammates with their personal struggles. She is the type of person to run into the fire to save as many people as she can. Her teammates would be the first to tell you she is the best captain to ever come through Wayzata Hockey. And what has inspired us all the most is that her determination to make a difference in this world hasn’t shifted through all the adversity she has seen, it has only made her more determined. Mal has not made her decision on where she will be attending school. Due to her inability to play college hockey, she is taking the time to think through who options to help find the school that will help her and her plans for the future the most.

I could go on and on about Mallory and how deserving she is of this award. She truly is the poster child for an award by the way she lives her life every single day.