2015 | Indiana | BOYS

Brebeuf | Braves | BOYS

The nature of sports, and in particular hockey, requires a well-rounded skill set that comprises not only the complete physical components but an ability to stay focused in extremely stressful moments, to maintain an emotional level that does not distract self or others from the task at hand, and the ability to communicate clearly, as well as listen to and execute instructions. The necessary mental attitude required to work with others, support their efforts, encourage, challenge and be willing to sacrifice personal needs/goals for the overall good of the team is, in essence, the hallmark of an athlete who is called a “team player”.  Tyler has earned this designation through unselfish effort, commitment to improvement and a desire for his team to succeed.

Tyler came to Brebeuf Jesuit hockey as young and relatively inexperienced sophomore.  His position as goalie has inherent challenges that not many hockey players are willing to accept.  The responsibility of being the “last line of defense” is difficult to say the least as it is not likely that a goalie will go through a game let alone an entire season without being scored on.  

The amount of focus and preparation and mental toughness that go into playing goalie cannot be overstated. Tyler learned through his experiences as younger goalie how difficult circumstances can be used to learn about your character and abilities and then to grow by making the personal commitment to improve in those and related areas.  The thing about that type of change is that it must come from within. No coach can make a player want to improve. At the end of the day that is a personal choice and the desire to make the commitment to improve is an all or nothing endeavor.  Tyler’s decision to improve was his own.

Tyler has been very consistent in his approach to become a reliable goalie for his team.  A determined work ethic combined with a positive and supportive attitude in the locker room has put Tyler in a leadership position as a senior this year.  He is well respected by all of his teammates and, based on my observations from my position as coach, I can also say that Tyler is admired for not only his athletic commitment but also his demeanor among his peers – he is an affable young man who knows that being serious all the time is not a balanced way to live.  However; when it is time to knuckle down Tyler is at the head of the line making sure his teammates are in step with the moment at hand.

One brief word on mental toughness and team work as it pertains to Tyler.  Last season our team was in the unfortunate position of having only one goalie the entire year.  Our season is over 6 months long – starts in mid-August and ends in early March. We practice 3 times per week (two of which are morning practices that start at 5:30am) and play between 40-45 games.  Tyler did not miss one practice or game the entire season!  In my 26 years as a coach I know there have been times when a player has woken up on a bitterly cold January morning with a mild headache or perhaps the sniffles and decided it was a good day to stay in bed.  I cannot imagine that Tyler didn’t have a similar thought a few times last season.  But as a testament to his character, his integrity and his desire to cultivate an espirit de corps among his peers Tyler chose to be there for every practice and play in every game.

As a leader, Tyler continually sets the example that embodies the core values of Brebeuf Jesuit (“men and women in service for others”) both on and off the ice.  An excellent example of Tyler’s leadership can been seen through a charity project he created and ran last season.  Tyler developed ‘Hockey Helps’ to raise money for St. Vincent’s Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital here in Indianapolis.  Due to the unique nature of the fund raising Tyler’s project involved his team mates working together with Tyler as goalie during games to keep other teams from scoring. Pledges were secured and money was donated on the basis of every save made in every game Tyler played in last season.  Tyler wanted to make sure that his project was not just about himself and getting the team to work together made the end result all the more satisfying.

When combining all of his attributes, integrity and character the decision to choose Tyler Baumann for the Hobey Baker award is, in the most simplest of hockey slang – a dangle, snipe and celly!