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Local hockey player receives Hobey Baker award

Battle Mountain's Hunter Fox received the Hobey Baker Foundation award for outstanding performance on and off the ice. His coaches praise him for being a leader on the young team as well as focusing on his schoolwork.
Townsend Bessent | Daily file photo |

EDWARDS — Battle Mountain hockey’s Hunter Fox is the only junior to earn first team all-state honors, but it’s what he did off the ice that has him earning more praise.

The junior was recently presented the Hobey Baker Foundation award, recognizing a high school hockey player for outstanding performance on and off the ice. Players are selected based on integrity, coachability, sportsmanship and community spirit.

“It’s a real honor that the coaches think of me this way,” Fox said.



To earn the award, Fox focused on bettering his teammates, both on and off the ice, as well as himself. He buckled down on his studies and put in the time before and after school to improve his grades.

“He’s a great kid,” said assistant coach Derek Byron, “and he’s a great hockey player. If I had to pick one kid to build a team around, it would probably be him.”

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In a year when the Huskies were down defensemen and upperclassmen, Fox’s coaches praised him for his leadership on the ice.

“I thought he was the backbone of our team this year,” coach Dennis Hextall said. “I just think the kid is loaded with raw talent. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him in high school hockey yet.”

The Hobey Baker Foundation partners with the Colorado Avalanche each spring to recognize outstanding athletes. As part of the award, Fox was honored at the Avs game against the Washington Capitals on April 1.

“Last year was just not a good year for me,” Fox said. “This year, I knew I had to get with it. It was hard in the beginning, but then I got used to it.”

He’s got one more year playing for the Huskies, but he’s well equipped for whatever comes next, on and off the ice.

Reporter Ross Leonhart can be reached at 970-748-2915 and rleonhart@vaildaily.com. Follow him on Instagram at colorado_livin_on_the_hill.


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