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2021 Herb Brooks Foundation Award Winners

By Tim Leighton, 04/05/21, 9:45AM CDT

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Warroad’s Abbey Hardwick selected Class A Herb Brooks Award winner

Abbey Hardwick, a senior forward on the Warroad High School girls hockey team, was selected the Class A recipient of the Herb Brooks Award during the Minnesota State High School League’s Girls Hockey State Tournament today at the Xcel Energy Center. The award recognizes a state tournament participant that strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks, a St. Paul native and world hockey icon. “During these years, Abbey has proven herself to be mentally tough and models these attributes among others,” Warroad head coach David Marvin said of the five-year letter winner. “Her drive to success encompasses sports, education, service within the community and workplace.” In addition to leading the Warriors to another state tournament appearance, Hardwick leads in the classroom and in other co-curricular activities. She is the school’s Student Council President and organized students in hosting a COVID-safe, family-friendly Halloween event at the Warroad Senior Living Center. She has also coached junior golf leave, served as a religious education instructor and volunteers in may other activities as well. Marvin says Hardwick is recognized in the community as a responsible and respected student. “Abbey encourages her teammates’ success,” Marvin said. “In her role as a team captain, she is admirable and quietly encourages teammates to excel during practices and games. She both respects and recognizes her teammates for their hard work and achievements both on and off the ice. Abbey promotes positive, personable interactions among her teammates. Abbey recognizes friendships are important in team success. In her senior year, Abbey has welcomed new members to the team with open arms no matter their age. She spends time with her teammates both on and off the ice. Abbey is fun to be around; she sets a high standard for other students as she makes wise decisions, treats others with compassion, and works hard both in school and sports. Abbey is very approachable and others look to her for guidance.” She will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Herb Brooks Foundation

Minnetonka’s Rory Guilday selected Class AA Herb Brooks Award winner

 Rory Guilday, a senior defender on the Minnetonka High School girls hockey team, was selected the Class AA recipient of the Herb Brooks Award during the Minnesota State High School League’s Girls Hockey State Tournament today at the Xcel Energy Center. The award recognizes a state tournament participant that strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks, a St. Paul native and world hockey icon. Guilday, who has played hockey since she was five years old, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 that led to optic nerve glioma. She was sidelined from any contact sports and, for nearly a year, endured intensive chemotherapy. Although she lost the majority of eyesight in her right eye and fought to regain lost muscle and balance, she returned to skating. Through the challenges, she never wavered from her dreams to return to play hockey at a high level. Her drive, commitment and fortitude have paved the way to making the Minnetonka varsity team as a freshman and the U.S. National Training Camp. She has also earned a spot on the USA Hockey U18 Women’s National Team that won a gold medal against Canada in Slovakia just more than a year ago. “Rory shows up to the rink every single day with a smile on her face,” Skippers coach Tracy Cassano said. “She has earned the highest amount of respect and is loved by all of her teammates. This is why they are eager to follow her lead. She is incredibly coachable and is always wanting to learn and to grow as a hockey player. Rory enjoys playing the game the right way -- tough, hard, fast, strong, but with class and integrity. She is the ultimate person, hockey player, and teammate!” Guilday will play Division I hockey at Cornell University. She will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Herb Brooks Foundation.


Landon Parker of East Grand Forks selected Class A Herb Brooks Award winner

Landon Parker, a senior forward on the East Grand Forks High School boys hockey team, was selected the Class A recipient of the Herb Brooks Award during the Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Hockey State Tournament today at the Xcel Energy Center. The award recognizes a state tournament participant that strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks, a St. Paul native and world hockey icon. “Anyone that knows Landon would describe him as a leader both on and off the ice,” Green Wave head coach Tyler Palmiscno said. “In the classroom, he is No. 1 in his class with a lifetime 4.0 grade point average. He leads by example and serves his community as a student leader and volunteer for his church youth group. Landon also helps the elderly in his neighborhood with yardwork and snow removal.” In the Green Wave’s 5-4 double overtime victory in the Section 8A championship, he had a goal and four assists. “Landon is extremely dedicated and committed to being his best self and is truly a leader on and off the ice,: Palmiscno said. “He puts his own personal goals aside for the good of the team. . . . He has worked extremely hard and was described by one of his coaches as the "most dedicated and driven hockey player I have ever had the opportunity to coach". His commitment and dedication have served Landon well in his hockey career.” He will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Herb Brooks Foundation


Lakeville South’s Cade Ahrenholz selected Class AA Herb Brooks Award winner

Cade Ahrenholz, a senior center on the Lakeville South High School boys hockey team, was selected the Class AA recipient of the Herb Brooks Award during the Minnesota State High School League’s Boys Hockey State Tournament today at the Xcel Energy Center. The award recognizes a state tournament participant that strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks, a St. Paul native and world hockey icon. “An integral part of Herb Brooks’ legacy is honoring and representing your local school and community as a whole,” Lakeville South head coach Janne Kivihalme said. “Cade Ahrenholz represents Lakeville South and the community of Lakeville with a passion for the game of hockey, and an infectious way of bringing people together. Lakeville’s youth look up to Cade as the captain for the Cougars and is a staple in our community rinks during the season and summer months to help our future Lakeville hockey players. “My own son even mimics our p.a. announcer saying "Number 19, Cade Ahrenholz," numerous times of day around our house. The Lakeville South hockey program has been the benefactor of Cade's love of the game, his drive, and encouragement to his teammates and younger players to be the best they can be. To demonstrate the selflessness of Cade Ahrenholz, his greatest memory is playing in the state tournament with his teammates and friends the past two seasons, but also having the ability through this experience to represent his community and school through athletic performance and the love of hockey.” Lakeville South, the Section 1AA champion earned a berth in the Class AA championship game for the first time in school history on Saturday. “Cade is a respected young man who is, and will continue to be, an outstanding citizen and a person many will continue to look up to, and we are all excited to see what Cade accomplishes in his future, both on and off the ice,” Kivihalme said. A multi-sport standout, he will play Division I hockey at Colorado College. He will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Herb Brooks Foundation.

Tim Leighton