Commitment to Adult Hockey Has Created New Standard |
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Rob Hartshorn (Forest Lake, Minn.) has been named the 2020 Adult Player of the Year, presented by Labatt Blue, it was announced by USA Hockey.The honor is presented annually by USA Hockey to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of an American-born adult ice hockey player. Within the Minnesota hockey community, Hartshorn has consistently been a uniting force. The goal for each team he forms and plays on is to bring people together to experience the greatness of the game and to forge lasting friendships. Like many other kids from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Hartshorn started playing hockey at a young age during the winter in his community’s local rec league. His love for the game only grew throughout the years, and Hartshorn went on to play in the Minnesota Wild Adult Hockey League at the Super Rink at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. He started playing in the league as a member of the Lumberjacks and has served as team captain over the years.Today, Hartshorn plays open hockey at three different rinks each week, including in the Minnesota Wild Adult Hockey League, and organizing a pick-up group of 20 players, which appropriately has been coined Hartsy Hockey.Hartshorn has played a total of 60 years of organized hockey. During that time, he’s considered to have helped retain 2,700 adult league players as he has organized three teams of 20 players each year for the last 45 years. His legacy within the community is rooted in promoting a lifelong love for the sport and staying focused on keeping players coming back season after season. (USA Hockey Photo) |