2024 | South Carolina | BOYS

Fort Mill Ice Jackets | Fort Mill | BOYS

I have had the pleasure of coaching Michael since his freshman year playing for the Fort Mill Ice Jackets. He is the kind of player that is truly a joy to have on the team. Michael always gives one hundred and ten percent each time he steps on the ice for the high school team and he is the kind of player that all his teammates look up to and admire.

Our team doesn’t have an opportunity to practice like I would prefer due to ice availability at the local rinks and player availability due to travel hockey practices and commitments, so I am going to share what my fellow coaches and Michael’s travel coaches have to say about him.

My name is C.J. Thibault, I am the head coach of the 18uAA Queen City Royals and have had the pleasure of coaching Michael Naughton this year.

I was happy to see that Michael had been nominated for this year’s Hobey Baker Award and couldn’t think of a more deserving player. I was first aware of Michael when he began playing at the 16uA level. Through his hard work and dedication, he quickly became one of the most important players on that team, helping him advance to the 16uAA team the following year.
After a solid 16uAA year, he made our 18uAA team this year. I think it is important to note his path, as it would have been easy to be discouraged and down after not making the AA team his first 16U year, but instead he worked hard, took criticism and advice from his coaches, and worked his way up.

This year, Michael joined a team that for the most part was all second-year players in the age group, but that didn’t stop him from bringing the same work ethic and dedication he has had for the last couple of years. Ice time is hard to come by on this team given the makeup of our forward group. However, Michael has forced his way into getting more ice time, by committing
himself to the systems we want to play and has been an integral part in our success this year. Doing so, with a great attitude.

Michael is a great hockey player, but he is more importantly a great person off the ice. He exhibits this in the little things he does around the rink and his teammates. He is well liked by everyone on the team and is always respectful to the adults he interacts with.

In closing, I believe Michael Naughton would be a great award winner for the Hobey Baker High School Character Award. If not evident in his coachability, strength of character, integrity, commitment, and teamwork on the ice, by the way he carries himself as a young man off the ice.

Thanks,
C.J. Thibault
18UAA Head Coach
Queen City Royals

Dear Hobey Baker Selection Committee,

I am pleased to recommend Michael Naughton for this tremendous honor. I had the privilege of being Michael’s head hockey coach in the Queen City Royals Hockey program (Charlotte, NC) for 2 seasons. Michael is a hard working, passionate, and goal oriented young man. For him to be nominated for an award like this a culmination of many years of hard work both in and out of
school and on and off the ice.

During my time as Michael’s coach, I have seem him in numerous settings both on and off the ice. On the ice, Michael was one of the hardest working/most talented players I ever had the pleasure of coaching. I first started coaching Michael when he was around 15 years old. Prior to this, he had recently moved from New York to Charlotte. Needless to say, I did not know him at all when he first moved to Charlotte. However, getting to know him was a pleasure. I first met Michael at our team’s tryout in May 2021. It was easy to notice what a great player he was. But what really stood out to me was how hard he worked. He seemed to outwork everyone on the
ice. He had such a good tryout that weekend that I personally felt that he should have made our club’s AA team. Unfortunately, the AA head coach did not see it that way so Michael ended up on the team below (my team). I have never talked to him about that at length but I am sure, not making that top team must have been disappointing for him. Most kids in his situation would
have been. However Michael did not let that get him down. Right after he learned that he’d been cut from the top team, he showed major perseverance by shaking my hand, looking me in the eye and saying, I’m looking forward to playing for you and learning from you coach. As a coach, this was very impressive to hear from someone so young. Most kids in his situation would have left and looked to play for another team. But not Michael. He worked hard and ended up being our team’s offensive captain. Our team ended up with a record of 31-12-9, and won a share of the Carolina Hockey League regular season league title. Michael was a major
factor in our success that year. And wouldn’t you know, he made that AA team the following season.

Aside from accomplishments on-the-ice, Michael was a true leader off-the-ice as well. He was a great friend in the locker room to all of his teammates and set a good example for everyone to follow. He was also highly respectful to coaches, opposing players and officials. He was one of those kids that seemed to always do the right thing – even when nobody was looking. He was a true team player who always looked to uplift his teammates wherever and whenever he could – no matter their skill level. In terms of grades, while I was not affiliated with Michael’s high school, I do know that he is a model high school student in terms of grades, study habits and behaviors through various one-on-one meetings I had with him and his parents over the year.

Michael is a fine young man. He would be a phenomenal choice as the Hobey Baker Award Recipient. He embodies hard work, respect and will no doubt represent the school and the award to the highest degree if selected – I recommend Michael with full confidence. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions as I am always happy to talk about Michael!

Anthony Amo
Former Queen City Royals Head Hockey Coach
5410 Alexa Rd
Charlotte, NC 28277
704-962-4388

I hope that the above recommendations from Anthony Amo and CJ Thibault, and myself, offer a glimpse into why we believe that Michael Naughton is the embodiment of the Hobey Baker High School Character Award.

Thank you for your time.

Ted Reilly
Head Coach
Fort Mill Ice Jackets
South Carolina Scholastic Hockey Association