University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Name 2019-20 Captains; Hand Out Team Awards
4/26/2019 1:56:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's hockey team handed out their team awards for the 2018-19 season on Friday as well as announced their 2019-20 team captains.
Rising seniors Benjamin Freeman (Falmouth, Maine) and Wyatt Newpower (Hugo, Minn.) will serve as co-captains this coming season while rising senior Alexander Payusov (Montreal, Quebec) and rising junior Adam Karashik (Ridgefield, Conn.) were named alternate captains. Freeman served as an alternate captain this past season.
"It's an honor to be chosen by my peers to help lead this team," stated Freeman. "We are starting to build more of a family environment as well as a belief in 'us' and what this program is all about."
"It's an honor and a privilege to be elected a leader for such a close knit group", commented Newpower. "I think I can bring a lot of intensity and a little spark and with that, we really want to create a 'never quit' culture here at UConn."
Here is a look at this year's award winners:
Thomas J. Jacquard Award
Thomas Jacquard was an UConn hockey freshman in 1989 when he was involved in a fatal car accident while on his way home for Thanksgiving break. This award was created in his honor to recognize the freshmen athlete who has performed exceptionally well on the ice and has exemplified UConn Hockey off the ice. This year's award was given to two standout rookies, Thomas Vomacka (Trutnov, Czech Republic) and Jachym Kondelik (Budejovice, Czech Republic). Vomacka saw action in 15 games making 14 starts in net for the Huskies. Vomacka finished his rookie campaign with a 7-7-0 record. He posted a 2.32 goals against average and a .922 save percentage, sitting him fourth among all Hockey East netminders. Vomacka was named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team following his freshman season. Kondelik appeared in 33 games as a rookie finishing with 26 points on four goals and 22 assists. His 22 helpers led the team, sat him 10th in Hockey East and second among the league's rookies. Kondelik finished the season with a .522 faceoff percentage, leading all HE rookies.
Team MVP
The Most Valuable Player recognized the player who has provided the most for his team this season. The 2019 Team MVP is awarded to both Karl El Mir (Montreal, Quebec) and Alexander Payusov (Montreal, Quebec). During the 2018-19 season, El Mir led the Huskies in points with 27 (13g/14a). El-Mir led the team and the league in power play goals with seven. He ended the season a +6, a team best mark and was named a Hockey East Third Team All-Star. Payusov ended his junior campaign with 20 points on 16 goals and four assists. His 16 goals led the team. Payusov led the team in shots on goal with 95 on the season. His six power play goals was tied for fourth in the league and sits him second among the Huskies.
Seventh Player Award
The Seventh Player is the man that every player would like to have by his side on the ice. He is voted on by his teammates as the athlete who has consistently performed above and beyond the call of duty. The winner of the 2019 Seventh Player Award is senior Max Kalter (Highland Park, Ill.). Kalter finished the season with 16 points on six goals and 10 assists. He generated 58 shots on goal in 34 games. Kalter had one shorthanded, one game winning and one power play goal on the season. He blocked a total of 30 shots, leaving him tied for third on the team. Kalter led the squad with a .493 faceoff percentage, sitting 10th in Hockey East with that mark.
Silver Bowl Award
Each year the Silver Bowl is awarded to the senior athlete who has exemplified what it means to be a Husky on and off the ice for his four years here. This year's winner, as voted on by his teammates is senior Miles Gendron (Shrewsbury, Mass.). Gendron finished his collegiate career for UConn as the teams captain. He played in 126 games during his four years, recording 33 points on 10 goals and 23 assists. During his senior season, Gendron finished with seven points on three goals and four assists while generating a career best 45 shots on goal.
Coach John Chapman Award
The Coach John Chapman award is given to the player who has demonstrated what it means to be a leader. He is a player who continually made sacrifices for the team; always putting them first. This player is one who has consistently risen to any challenge, and has graciously accepted any task asked of him. The winner is chosen by the coaching staff and the 2018 recipient of the Coach John Chapman award is senior Miles Gendron (Shrewsbury, Mass.). Gendron served as the captain of the Huskies for the 2018-19 season.
