Each year YHH watches hundreds of games, hosts tournaments all over the state, and collects some great information on thousands of players. There are so many great stories of so many great kids. At the Squirt level we saw some great teams and some epic games that we won't ever forget.

Two years ago, we began handing out the Wiz Wyatt Player of the Year Award to top Squirt and PeeWee players. Our criteria for the award is pretty simple.

• The player must be an outstanding player.
• The player must be a great student and leader.
• The player must be a multi-sport athlete.

Wiz Wyatt was a highly decorated three sport star at Minneapolis West in the early 1970's. After graduating from West, he went on to Harvard and played for the Crimson for his collegiate career. Post graduation, Wiz coached youth hockey in Minneapolis and Edina both as a non-parent and parent volunteer. He currently lives in Edina with his wife Jane and is the father of four adult children Susan, Mary, Michael, and Jessie.

Name: Ryan Chesley
Team: Mahtomedi
Position: Defense
Birthyear: 2004

Ryan Chesley from Mahtomedi is a great hockey player. An aggressive Defenseman who is not afraid to rush the puck when given the chance. His Squirt A team had a great season, winning the District 2 League Championship and finishing second in the Regional Tournament of Champions. The Zephyrs were stout on the blue line and in goal, Chesley both defended well and lead the rush. "Ryan is one of the smoothest skaters I have ever seen," said Mahtomedi Squirt A Coach JJ Begley. 

Chesley a great student at OH Anderson Elementary in Mahtomedi is also a great multi-sport athlete playing Soccer and competitive Golf in the off-season. Ryan is the kind of kid that always seems to be in a good mood, no matter where he is, "Ryan is the kind of kid that is always smiling and was very fun to coach this year," raved Begley. 

Ryan will play Defense this Summer on the Great Plains team in the North American Hockey Showcase.

Name: Dylan Godbout
Team: Woodbury
Position: Forward
Birthyear: 2004

Dylan Godbout is a great all around hockey player. A fluid skater that always seems to be in the right place at right time. One District 8 coach said of Dylan, "he controls the play both with the puck and without it." What caught our eye about Dylan's game was his ability to score big goals in big games for the Predators.

Woodbury Squirt A Coach John Erickson, a veteran of 10+ years of coaching said, "Dylan is one of the best players I've ever coached, what makes him so fun to coach is his high understanding of the game. If you play on his line you should expect to get the puck on your stick...which is something rarely you can say about a Squirt player."

On top of playing hockey at a high level, Dylan is a gifted student at Liberty Ridge Elementary in Woodbury. Dylan also stars on the Woodbury AAA baseball team in the Summer time and plays traveling soccer in the Fall.

Name: Tyler Haskins
Team: Rochester
Position: Forward
Birthyear: 2003

If the Wiz Wyatt Award were handed out to the nicest kid and best leader, Tyler Haskins would likely win the award. Countless people have contacted YHH to nominate Tyler about his character and ability. Brian Nelson, the Rochester Squirt A Coach said of Haskins, "When you watch Tyler play hockey his physical skill is obvious. What you can't see is the type of kid Tyler is. He is an exceptional young man, Tyler respects the game by treating everyone at the rink with the utmost respect." 

Tyler caught our eye at the YHH Squirtacular in January. He is a big and skilled player. But what struck us most was his ability to find the open man on his line to create offense for the Red.

Tyler is a great student at Bamber Valley Elementary in Rochester. He also excels at Lacrosse, too, when not playing hockey.

Coach Nelson said of Haskins, "Tyler had a unbelievable season, he lead by example this year by coming to to the rink each day and giving 100 percent. He pushed himself and his teammates to constantly improve. He is the type of player who will score five goals and instead of talking about how good he was, he talks about how good teammates were that game. Tyler has a bright future!"

Name: Logan Seward
Team: Andover
Position: Center
Birthyear: 2004

The Andover Huskies had a great Squirt A season, ending the season the unanimous number one team in Minnesota. The Huskies won the District 10 title, the Moose Goheen title, the Fargo International title and the Regional Tournament of Champions title.

Logan Seward was a big reason for Andover's success this season. The Huskies played a very aggressive style of hockey attacking their opponents with their speed and skill. Coach Bill Thoreson aptly described Seward to YHH this past week, "I nicknamed him (Seward) the Pit Bull.  He is tenacious, strong, and never quits.  Nobody works harder in games or practice than Logan." Down the stretch, the Huskies won 18 straight games to end the season. Seward played a key role in this streak late in games. Coach Thoreson said of Seward, "he is the center we would have on the ice to protect a lead at the end of a game. Logan is very deserving of the Player of the Year."

Logan is a great Football player. Last Fall, his team won the league championship with Logan carrying the load in the backfield and terrorizing opponents playing on defense. At school, Logan works as hard at his academics as he does on the ice or football field. His teacher, Mark Cotter, weighed in on Logan at school, "Logan always does his best in school, he is a very trustworthy kid who is a joy to have in class. He is definitely the kind of kid who represents what the award is all about." Cotter went on to say, "Logan is a very social kid, he is as comfortable around adults as he is around kids."

Name: Jimmy Snuggerud
Team: Chaska Chanhassen
Position: Defense
Birthyear: 2004

Jimmy Snuggerud is one of the most fantastic players our lens has seen over the years at YHH. He is an athletic phenom who at times can be magical with the puck, a great passer, and threat to the other team every time he hits the ice. Scott Burkholder, Jimmy's coach said of Snuggerud, "Jimmy is a magician with the puck...it is really fun to watch him carry the puck." Burkholder went on to say, "Jimmy is the type of kid that will play wherever you ask him to play and be happy to help his team win...he is a great competitor." 

Jimmy also competes off the ice as well. In the classroom at Jonathan Elementary, Jimmy is a great student who is respected by all of his classmates. In the offseason, Jimmy is a great baseball player for the Chaska AAA baseball team. 

Snuggerud is the son of former Gopher, NHLer and US Olympian Dave Snuggerud. He is also the grandson of Jim Westby a former Gopher and Olympian in his day, too. His first cousin, Luc plays Division 1 hockey for Nebraska Omaha.