Griffin Ludtke, a first-year Bantam AA defenseman for Lakeville South, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Patrick Schoonover Award, an annual award named in honor of the Eastview Bantam AA player who passed away during a game during the 2014-15 season. The award is given to the Minnesota PeeWee or Bantam hockey player who best exemplifies Patrick’s ideals of hard work, high character, loyalty, honesty, humor and athletic achievement. 

Griffin is kind and loyal, and his passion for hockey and his team runs deep. He is always hardest on himself. He wants to play Division I hockey someday. Griffin is considered a leader on his team, and is a talented, smart defenseman – a position that doesn’t always get huge stats, but is no less important. 

In October of 2013, Griffin, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It was life-changing for both him and his family. From the first night lying in that hospital bed, taking shots over and over again, Griffin has had an “I got this” attitude. There are hard days, days when he would like to wake up and not have T1D, but he pushes on, usually with a smile and a “how are YOU?” way of thinking.

Currently Griffin is playing with a tennis-ball sized lump on his hip from where his insulin pod sits. He doesn’t complain, and he doesn’t let it stop him. His teammates see that, and it inspires them as well to fight through their own adversities. 

Griffin loves the Lord and his faith gets him through a lot. He is in the toughest classes at school and gets great grades. He is active at Hosanna Lutheran Church, and has done numerous service activities with his hockey teams, such as Feed My Starving Children, and ringing the red kettle bell. He and his entire family have become passionately involved in the organization of the annual Minneapolis Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser Gala. 

Despite playing as a defenseman, Griffin is third on his team in overall points with 31 this season. Out of those 31 points, 25 are from assists which speaks highly to the kind of player and person Griffin is - unselfish. 

Ludtke was presented with the third annual Patrick Schoonover Award at the Minnesota State High School League Class AA State Tournament Banquet, on Wednesday, March 8, in St. Paul. He will also be recognized in the Patrick Schoonover Award’s permanent display at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Patrick Schoonover Award is presented by Let’s Play Hockey and the Minnesota Wild.