Two Eagles earned prestigious Hobey Baker High School Character Awards recently. 

Cody Wood, a member of the Barrington High School boys ice hockey team, and Margaux Boneu, a member of the East Bay Eagles Co-op girls ice hockey team, received the awards during a special ceremony in the senate lounge at the Rhode Island Statehouse. 

Wood and Boneu are among the 32 student-athletes statewide to earn the recognition. Sen. David P. Tikoian hosted the event.

“The benefits of sports go far beyond staying physically active. For young people, being part of a team provides lessons that last a lifetime. Sports help us learn the value of hard work, and how to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Most importantly, sports build character. The Hobey Baker award recognizes those whose strong character has led them to excellence as players, teammates, and leaders. I am honored to welcome these outstanding Rhode Island student-athletes to the State House and congratulate them on all their achievements,” Sen. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln) said.

In 2003, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation established the Hobey Baker High School Character Award to honor high school hockey players who exemplify the Hobey Baker ideal that “Character Builds Excellence.” 

In 2006, the RI Interscholastic League Hockey Coaches Associations became one of the first state hockey associations in the country to embrace the award.    

Annually, a single senior hockey player from each participating high school hockey team is selected by the team’s coach for outstanding individual performance on and off the ice based on the following criteria: coachability, strength of character, integrity, commitment, teamwork, community leadership, and outstanding sportsmanship.