Men's Ice Hockey Announces Team Awards
4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
FAIRFIELD, Conn.- The Sacred Heart University Men's Ice Hockey program announced its team awards over the past week. The awards featured the Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year, Best Defensive Player, Most Valuable Player, The Coach's Award which was voted on by the coaches of the team, and the Peter Downey Award which in remembrance of the first SHU Hockey head coach Peter Downey and the award is given to the player that "best served the traditions of SHU Hockey".
Most Improved Player- Patrick Dawson, D
Dawson skated in 21 games for the Pioneers in his first collegiate season tallying one goal, six assists for seven points. He scored his first collegiate goal on December 7, against Robert Morris and was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week on January 14 for his three assist game at Mercyhurst on January 11.
Rookie of the Year- Braeden Tuck, F
Tuck was an immediate contributor to the Pioneers this season. He scored the most points among freshman this season with 26 points and also led the AHA in assists among rookies with 22. Tuck also added a shorthanded goal, a game-winning goal and 13 blocks to his growing resume and also led the rookie class with a 16 plus/minus. Tuck is also tenth in the nation in points per game among freshman at .82 points per game and was also named to the All-Conference Rookie team this season.
Best Defensive Player- Mike Lee, D
Lee capped off his senior year in style with the Pioneers. He was first in assist scoring (.86 APG), first in defenseman scoring (1.04 PPG) and tied for first in power play scoring (.64 PPG). The senior is also tenth in the nation in assists per game at .85 and is fifth in the nation in defenseman scoring a point a game. Lee ends his career at SHU with 10 goals and 48 assists in 119 career games as a Pioneer.
Most Valuable Player- Jason Cotton, F
Coach's Award Winner
Pete Downey Award Winner
Cotton was one of the most prolific scorers in Atlantic Hockey this season. He was tied for fourth in point scoring (.96) in the conference and tenth in the nation in goal scoring at .59 goals a game. He was by far the best overall scorer, scoring three power play goals, three shorthanded goals, three game-winning goals, a hat trick and was named to the All-Conference First team this season. Cotton ends his Pioneer career playing 118 career games with 41 goals and 40 assists at SHU. He was named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year, named to the All-Atlantic Hockey First-Team, a Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalist, and signed a professional National Hockey League contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pete Downey Award- Marc Johnstone, F
Johnstone captained the Pioneers in the 2019-20 season and skated in all 34 games for the SHU in his junior year. He racked up a career high 18 assists along with nine goals for 27 points. He also tallied three power-play goals and ranked ninth in Atlantic Hockey in assists. His best game came against Boston University in the Pioneers 4-0 shutout on November, 26 when he cashed in three assists.
