News

Dylan Samberg, a senior defenseman on the Hermantown High School boys’ hockey team has been named the winner of the 2017 Reed Larson Award. The award, presented to the top senior boys’ high school hockey defenseman in Minnesota, is based on the following criteria: academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

A stalwart on the blue line as well as an offensive force, Samberg has 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 64 career games. This season, he has posted totals of 10-20--30, helping the defending state champion Hawks advance to their eighth consecutive state tournament. Samberg also is +94 for his high school career, including a +56 rating this season.

A captain this season and an all-conference honoree, Samberg is also a finalist for the 2017 Mr. Hockey Award. He is the second-highest rated Minnesota high school prospect (and top-rated prep defenseman) in the NHL Central Scouting rankings for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Samberg will play his college hockey at Minnesota Duluth.

“Dylan is the best player on our team, is our captain and leader,” Hermantown coach Bruce Plante said. “As a player, he is a towering presence on the ice. Dylan skates really well, is an excellent defender and has good vision and offensive skills. He plays every shift of every game with high energy and competitiveness. In the locker room, he is very important to the success of the team with his leadership, looseness and fun-loving attitude.”

Off the ice, Samberg owns a 3.2 GPA and has been on the Hermantown High School merit roll and honor roll. Samberg volunteers at St. Raphael Catholic Church in addition to other community service efforts. He has also served as a coach and mentor with the Hermantown Amateur Hockey Association, devoting his time to the Outdoor Rink Rat program.

“Dylan is a solid citizen and a good student at Hermantown High School,” Plante said. “He has been a great spokesman and role model for our hockey program for the past three years. He has a really nice following of youth hockey players in our community through his volunteering time and a very infectious and kid-friendly smile. He has always been engaging and helpful with the youth hockey players and they just think he is the best.”

The 2017 Reed Larson Award was presented tonight at the Class A State Tournament Banquet at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

The other candidates for the award were Matt Anderson (Holy Family), Mitchel Andres (Brainerd), Colin Baird (Mounds View), Luke Bjork (Burnsville), Jake Borgida (Blake), Lincoln Erne (Blaine), Josh Ess (Lakeville South), Luke Heffernen (St. Paul Johnson), Reid Hill (Duluth East), Jake Kelly (St. Michael-Albertville), Ryan Kranz (Centennial), Andrew Kruse (Delano), Nicky Leivermann (Eden Prairie), Joe Liberty (Duluth Marshall), Kyle Looft (Mankato West), Benton Maass (Elk River), Spencer Meier (Sartell-St. Stephen), Nick Mueller (Buffalo), Noel Parker (St. Paul Academy), Keaton Pehrson (Lakeville North), Nick Perbix (Elk River), Robbie Stucker (St. Thomas Academy) and Zach Van Sant (Minnetonka).

Past winners: 2016 Wyatt Aamodt (Hermantown), 2015 Jacob Olson (Hill-Murray), 2014 Luc Snuggerud (Eden Prairie), 2013 Jake Bischoff (Grand Rapids).