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Every year, a player from each CPIHL team is nominated for the CPIHL Justin Yingling Award. And every year, three are named finalists for the award.
This year, Lower Dauphin’s own Brady Coonelly is one of the three award finalists. A 13-year hockey player, Coonelly is known for his loyalty to the Falcon family. He and his entire family take pride in being part of the Lower Dauphin school system, and every time he has stepped out on the ice in that blue and white uniform, Coonelly has represented Lower Dauphin well.
“He, his older brother, and his family have been an important pillar of our organization for many years,” Head Coach Travis Swartz said. “With this being said, he will be greatly missed as he graduates and goes off to attend either the University of Pittsburgh or Penn State. No matter which school he chooses, that organization will be lucky to have him represent their university.”
Coonelly is a grinder. He pulls double duty as a travel hockey player and playing for his high school team, and he never takes a shift off. Every time he is on the ice, you can tell where he is at, as the hard-working prowess follows him.
Swartz knows Coonelly’s level of play will translate to the college level too, which is why he knows whichever Pennsylvania college hockey club gets him will be glad they did.
“Lower Dauphin was lucky enough to add Brady to our middle school program, where you could see his pure grit and determination was second to none,” Swartz said. “Brady, even at the middle school level, showed everyone he had the leadership qualities that would make him one of our most storied varsity players in the school’s history. This feat was accomplished even with a shortened school career due to COVID.”
Add that to the fact that he would often show up just at puck drop or part way through games back in middle school, everyone who knows Coonelly knows just how much hockey has always meant to him.
They also know just how much his teams mean to him. He has been described as a role model and a leader throughout his Lower Dauphin hockey career, and he has always been recognized for it. His coaches love him and his teammates appreciate him, and so many of them speak so highly of their captain.
“His dedication to the game and his teammates is something to be admired from middle school all the way through high school,” Swartz said. “This level of determination is exactly why he was named an assistant captain during his sophomore and junior year, and why he was named a captain his senior year. His selflessness on the ice should be highlighted as he is currently the all-time leader in assists for Lower Dauphin’s ice hockey program.”
The centreman has eclipsed over 130 points in his past two seasons combined for his high school, but his leadership and impact run far past the stat sheet. Coonelly is more worried about the success of his teammates each and every game, practice and everything in between, and it is evident his teammates look up to him.
The Yingling Award is all about three things – outstanding dedication, performance, and commitment to excellence – each of which Coonelly possesses well. He is the ideal hockey player that coaches look for, as he not only possesses the skills to be great, but he listens to his coaches as well.
“On a personal level, Brady is an extremely coachable individual,” Swartz said. “He takes suggestions, criticisms, and praise with an open and level mind. He is able to process the information provided to him and translate it directly in his game play.”
It is said Coonelly also takes this feedback and uses it to feed more into his teammates as well, which goes a long way in showing just how coachable he truly is. He does not just listen, but he applies what he is told, and the Lower Dauphin staff speaks highly of him because of this.
They speak highly of Coonelly as well because of what he does beyond playing hockey. The Yingling Award is about excellence and dedication off the ice as well, and Coonelly has shown that throughout his four years of high school.
“Off the ice, you can catch Brady in an abundance of school activities, sports and volunteer work,” Swartz said. “Brady has been part of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and National Spanish Honor Society since 10th grade. He was on the 2023 Homecoming Court, voted to LD Mr. Mini Thon Court, and won the P.R.I.D.E award for respect.”
Coonelly’s impact beyond the hockey arena has been nothing short of spectacular. Many people might even recognize him for all the great work he does instead of recognizing him as a hockey player, and that is what will help take him far in life.
“It has been an utter pleasure watching Brady grow and develop through the Lower Dauphin Ice Hockey Program,” Swartz said. “He has evolved as a player, as a leader, and as a young man through the years both on and off the ice. His leadership and presence on the team – and in the program as a whole – will be greatly missed. With all of this in mind, it is our pleasure to nominate him for the Justin Yingling Award.”
Coonelly’s leadership on the ice and his volunteerism off the ice make him a deserving finalist for the 2024 CPIHL Justin Yingling Award.
