2020 | Ohio | BOYS

North Olmsted High School | Eagles | BOYS

This athlete was selected for exemplifying the all the values of The Hobey Baker Award; including, character, excellence, sportsmanship, and a love for the game.

Shawn grew up playing for our city’s club hockey program as well as the Cleveland Jr. Jacks and worked his way up to becoming a standout athlete at the high school level. He’s grown and improved his skills significantly each year while maintaining the demeanor that earns respect and admiration from his teammates and coaches. After learning the landscape of junior hockey and having opportunity to play at a higher level, he decided to stay and help lead his time his team throughout senior year.

As a coaching staff, we believe it is tough to lead at the high school level given the age and maturity level of players, and we also do not want our best players being given captaincy simply for that fact. Having already served as an assistant captain in his junior year, Shawn earned the captain ‘C’ prior to the 2019-2020 season. It was known early on that one day this would be his team.

Leading the team in points as a defenseman and all-league/conference honors does not impress as much as his relentless work ethic and commitment to honoring the logo on the front of his jersey. Often playing more than two-thirds of the game, he pushes his body to its limit and never takes a night off. In my sixth year of coaching high school hockey, I can honestly say this is the only player who I’ve never seen have an off night in terms of effort.

Off the ice, Shawn is a good student and plays for the school’s varsity baseball team during the spring season. He aspires to play Tier II junior hockey in the US and then attend a 4-year college.

It’s student athletes like this that make my job feel extra worthwhile and help to solidify a strong high school hockey program. Shawn is every bit deserving of this special award.