Warroad's Matt Hard named 2022 Class A Herb Brooks Award Winner

Warroad senior center Matt Hard was selected as the recipient of the Class A Herb Brooks Award on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.

The annual award is presented to a state tournament participant that strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks, a St. Paul native that gained international fame as a hockey coach. The award commemorates the unending influence that Brooks had on the sport of hockey, not just in Minnesota, but throughout the world.

Hard had 22 goals and 19 assists in leading Warroad to a state tournament appearance for the 23rd time in program history.

“Matt has sacrificed offensive numbers and glory for the team,” Warroad coach Jay Hardwick said. “All he wants is success for the team. By accepting these roles and playing for the team, he has been a great example for all of the younger kids on our team that look up to him.”

Hard is a three-sport participant at Warroad, also competing in football and baseball and has a 4.0 grade-point average in the classroom.

“He is a natural leader who strives to lead others by example,” Hardwick said. “Matt’s athletic commitment and leadership are outstanding. His disciplined work ethic during practices and games has been recognized by his teammates and coaches as he has been chosen a captain in all three of his sports. He is naturally soft-spoken, but his caring manner and companionship with his teammates makes them want to follow him in everything he does.”