University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Hand Out 2019-20 Team Awards
3/30/2020 3:38:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's hockey team handed out their team awards for the 2019-20 season on Monday. Here is a look at this year's award winners:
Thomas J. Jacquard Award
Thomas Jacquard was a 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 freshman defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (Murmansk, Russia). Kuznetsov played in all 34 games as a rookie and collected 11 points on the year, scoring twice with nine assists. He also blocked 20 shots defensively. Kuznetsov was the second youngest player in all of NCAA Division I hockey, he is ranked among the players to watch by NHL Central Scouting for the 2020 NHL Draft.
Team MVP
The Most Valuable Player recognized the player who has provided the most for his team this season. The 2019-20 Team MVP is awarded to senior Benjamin Freeman (Falmouth, Maine). Freeman played in 33 games this season and led the Huskies in scoring with a career-best 28 points on seven goals and 21 assists. Defensively, he posted 20 blocked shots and in the face-off circle, he led the Huskies and all Hockey East players winning 359 face-offs.
Seventh Player Award
The 7th 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 2019-20 7th Player Award is senior Benjamin Freeman (Falmouth, Maine). For the second-straight season, Freeman wore a letter on his jersey, being named a team captain for his senior season. At the end of the season, Freeman became the first Husky to win the Len Ceglarski Individual Sportsmanship Award winner given out by Hockey East. Over 33 games, Freeman did not take one penalty on the season. He closed out his career with 135 games played, 77 career points on 25 goals and 52 assists.
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 Wyatt Newpower (Hugo, Minn.). The senior defenseman concluded his UConn career with a stellar senior season that saw him claim the Hockey East '47 Best Defensive Defenseman Award as well as Second Team All-Star honors for the league. Named a team captain for this season, Newpower finished the year with 22 points (3g/19a) to rank sixth among Hockey East defensemen in scoring. He was a +23 for the year, fifth in the league. Defensively, he blocked 42 shots, tied for ninth in Hockey East. Over his UConn career, Newpower played in 114 career games with 47 points on 11 goals and 36 assists and blocking 165 shots.
Coach John Chapman Award
The Coach John Chapman award is given to the member of the program who has demonstrated what it means to be a leader. He continually made sacrifices for the team; always putting them first. This student-athlete 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 2019-20 recipient of the Coach John Chapman award is senior Michael Riley. A four-year member of the UConn hockey program, Riley worked as a team manager for the Huskies. His work for the program during practices and games, both at home and on the road, were a critical part of UConn's success during the past four years.
