HAMILTON – The Colgate men's hockey program celebrated its 2018-19 campaign on Sunday afternoon with its team banquet and awards ceremony. In addition to honoring the program's five-player senior class, eight Raiders were recognized with nine team awards for their efforts in the season and their careers.
2018-19 COLGATE MEN'S HOCKEY AWARD WINNERS
Best Offensive Player –
Bobby McMann
Steve Riggs Memorial Award –
Josh McKechney
Dan Coley "Barrell" Award –
Trevor Cosgrove
Terry Slater Trophy –
Rory McGuire
Whit Williams Award –
Tyler Penner
Best Defensive Player –
Mitch Benson
Rob Ries Memorial Award –
Rory McGuire
Coaches Award –
Willie Brooks
ECAC Student-Athlete of the Year Finalist –
Ken Citron
2019 SENIOR CLASS
#3
Ken Citron – Defenseman
#4
Willie Brooks – Defenseman
#12
Adam Dauda – Forward
#13
Rory McGuire – Forward
#28
Hunter Racine – Forward
Griffin Prescott – Student Manager
Best Offensive Player – Bobby McMann
Awarded to the leading scorer of the Colgate men's hockey program, junior forward Bobby Mann was named Best Offensive Player. A back-to-back honoree, McMann topped the Colgate squad in goals (8), assists (15), points (23), total shots (132), power play goals (4) and penalty minutes (32). In addition to earning points in 17 of his 36 games played, McMann had a team-leading six multi-point performances and went on a trio of three-game point streaks. McMann also recorded two game-winning goals and one game-tying goal, and posted five or more shots on goal on nine occasions. McMann was also recognized by the conference coaches with ECAC Hockey Third Team All-League honors.
Steve Riggs Memorial Award – Josh McKechney
The Steve Riggs Memorial Award is given to the player who is most known for gentlemanly play and possesses a high standard of ability and was presented to sophomore forward
Josh McKechney. While playing in all 36 games for the Raiders, McKechney ranked second on the team with his 15 points and had three multi-point games.
Steve Riggs came to Colgate from Potsdam, New York and played for the Red Raiders from 1962 until his graduation in 1965. During most of his stay at Colgate, he led the team in points, goals, and assists, and is one of Colgate hockey's all-time scoring leaders. He is known for his gentlemanly style of play which contributed a great deal to the success of his team. He was a leader in many ways: as a friend, a teammate, the 1964-65 team captain and later as a high school hockey coach. In 1968 he was killed in Vietnam while serving as a lieutenant in the Army. Since then, his friends and family have established the Steven Riggs Memorial Scholarship and have contributed funds for the men's varsity locker room, which was dedicated in his name at the 25th reunion of the Class of 1965.
Dan Coley "Barrell" Award – Trevor Cosgrove
The Dan Coley "Barrell" Award is given annually to the best defenseman, and was awarded to sophomore blueliner
Trevor Cosgrove. On his way to leading Colgate's defensemen with 68 shots on goal, Cosgrove recorded five goals and six assists for 11 total points. In addition to leading the team with four power play goals, Cosgrove tallied 43 blocked shots and finished with a positive plus/minus rating in five games.
Dan Coley arrived at Colgate in the early 1940's from the Nichols School in Buffalo, New York. He was the captain of Colgate's undefeated hockey team during the 1946-47 season. Following his graduation, he returned to Buffalo where he played semi-professional hockey and coached as well. He passed away in 1982 after a battle with cancer. The Silver Puck Award was given in Dan's memory in 1983. Friends and family continue to remember him through the establishment of the Dan Coley Award.
Terry Slater Trophy – Rory McGuire
The Terry Slater Trophy is awarded by the Silver Puck Club to the senior whose performance, leadership, and dedication on and off the ice had the greatest impact on Colgate Hockey during his career. Senior forward
Rory McGuire was honored with the Terry Slater Trophy after a season in which he was named an assistant captain for his leadership of the program. McGuire has shown continuous commitment to the program and embodies a "team first" attitude. The Bracebridge, Ontario native logged valuable minutes as both a defenseman and forward during his time as a Raider, willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win.
Terry Slater served as head coach of the Raiders for 15 seasons from 1977 to 1992 and is known to be one of Colgate and college hockey's coaching legends. He passed away during the 1991-92 season and is fondly remembered by many. Under his leadership, the team won 251 games and in 1989-90 made it to the NCAA Championships. Slater was named ECAC and NCAA Coach of the Year in 1990, was twice honored as a Howard Hartman Award winner, and was the winner of the Silver Puck Award in 1987. To honor his time at Colgate, the Terry Slater Memorial Scholarship was established in 1992 to provide financial assistance for hockey players.
Whit Williams Award – Tyler Penner
The Whit Williams Award is awarded annually to the player who has great integrity and a passion for the game of hockey, and through his commitment to excellence, improved the most over his career or season. Junior forward
Tyler Penner honored with the Whit Williams award after playing in all 36 games for the Raiders. Penner posted four goals and three assists for seven points, tallied 52 shots on goal, and led all Colgate forwards with his 31 blocked shots.
Whit graduated from Colgate in 1943 and served for several years as an Army Air Force pilot. During his student years at Colgate, he played football, baseball, and hockey and remained active as an alumnus as a member of Colgate's Alumni Corporation Board of Directors, Maroon Council Reunion Program Committee, and of course, served as a member of Colgate's Silver Puck Organization for 25 years where he was president from 1977 until the time of his death. He was recognized for his service with a Maroon Citation in 1977, the Silver Puck Award in 1979 and in 1999 he was awarded the Gold Puck.
Best Defensive Player – Mitch Benson
Awarded annually to the player who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game, freshman goaltender
Mitch Benson was named Best Defensive Player. The rookie posted a .911 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average through 33 starts this season, and led the ECAC throughout the regular season with his 885 total saves. Benson's 33 starts in goal were more than any other freshman in the country, while he allowed just one goal against on seven occasions. On his way to tallying 14 30-plus save performances, Benson was honored as ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week and Goalie of the Week for his 53-save weekend in a pair of 2-1 wins over New Hampshire. A standout in the crease, Benson posted a career-high 41 saves in the Raiders' 3-2 overtime win at then-No. 11 Cornell this season.
Rob Ries Memorial Award – Rory McGuire
The Rob Ries Memorial Award is given to the player who provided the most inspiration and leadership to the team.
Rory McGuire's recognition comes after earning an assistant captain leadership role midway through the 2018-19 campaign for his dedication to the program.
As a right wing, Rob "Rocket" Ries served the Red Raiders for three seasons from 1974-77. Just before his last final exam of his junior year, Ries was killed in a car accident just outside of Hamilton. He was known as a player that everyone counted on and one that gave 110% at all times. Many knew him as a loyal friend and a unique and spirited person. Aside from hockey, he was involved with his education courses and volunteered his time with needy and disabled children both in Hamilton and at home in Stillwater, Minnesota. His many friends and family continue to remember him and honor his time at Colgate with the Rob Ries Memorial Award.
Coaches Award – Willie Brooks
Always leading the program with a drive to be the best both on and off the ice, senior defenseman
Willie Brooks was recognized by Colgate men's hockey head coach
Don Vaughan with the annual Coaches Award. Brooks played in 27 of the Raiders' 36 games on the year before having his season cut short by injury. Before having to lead the team from the stands through the playoffs, Brooks recorded three goals and three assists for six points on the year. In addition to tallying 18 blocked shots and 39 shots on goal, Brooks scored a pair of goals in the 5-4 overtime win at then-No. 3 Quinnipiac. His positive energy resonated both on and off the ice and will be felt for years to come.
ECAC Student-Athlete of the Year Finalist – Ken Citron
In addition to leading the Colgate program as senior captain, defenseman
Ken Citron was recognized as an ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year finalist. On the ice, Citron tallied the second-most blocked shots on the Colgate squad with 48 on the year, and posted one goal and two assists for three points. In addition to his game-winning goal over then-No. 13 Princeton, Citron has been a strong student-athlete in the classroom as a two-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team member and four-time Raider Academic Honor Roll recipient. Citron holds a 3.61 cumulative GPA and graduates this spring with a degree in Economics.
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For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.
