HAMILTON – In celebrating the successes of the 2020-21 campaign, the Colgate men's hockey program presented team awards. Awards are voted on each year by the squad, after the 2020-21 season's three wins over nationally ranked programs.
 
2020-21 COLGATE MEN'S HOCKEY AWARD WINNERS
Best Offensive Players – Josh McKechney & Alex Young
Dan Coley "Barrell" Award – Trevor Cosgrove
Rob Ries Memorial Award – Paul McAvoy
Steve Riggs Memorial Award – Josh McKechney
Best Defensive Player – Pierson Brandon
Terry Slater Trophy – Paul McAvoy
Whit Williams Award – Evan Tschumi
Coaches Award – Will Friend
 
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER – Josh McKechney, Alex Young
Awarded to the leading scorer of the Colgate men's hockey program, there was a tie between senior Josh McKechney and first-year Alex Young.
 
Competing in all 22 games for the Raiders, McKechney recorded a team-leading 13 points by seven goals and six assists. Scoring a team-leading three shorthanded goals, he added one power play goal, one game-winner, and one game-tying goal.
 
Joining McKechney as the Best Offensive Player was Young. Lacing up for 21 of the season's 22 games, the first-year topped the team with his 13 points by six goals and seven assists. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Young led the squad with his 55 shots on goal, adding seven blocked shots. He marked one power play goal and one game-winner on the way to registering four multi-point performances. Named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team, Young was awarded as ECAC Rookie of the Month for Jan. 2021.
 
DAN COLEY "BARRELL" AWARD – Trevor Cosgrove
The Dan Coley "Barrell" Award is given annually to the best defenseman, and was awarded to senior blueliner Trevor Cosgrove for the third time in his career. After being recognized with the honor as a first-year and sophomore, Cosgrove garners his third Barrell Award behind a five-point season that included three goals and two assists.
 
Tallying 40 shots on goal, Cosgrove added 16 blocked shots and a power play goal on the year. Voted to serve as an assistant captain for the 2020-21 campaign, the Exeter, N.H., native had a two-goal game in the 4-3 win at St. Lawrence (Jan. 21) off of a season-high of five shots on goal.
 
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.
 
ROB RIES MEMORIAL AWARD – Paul McAvoy
The Rob Ries Award is given to the player who provided the most inspiration and leadership to the team. Paul McAvoy's recognition comes in addition to his Terry Slater Trophy, 1819 Award, and Senior CLASS Award Top-15 candidate this season.
 
Voted to serve as team captain for the 2020-21 campaign, McAvoy laced up for all 22 games for the Raiders, where he recorded five points by three goals and two assists. Marking a hat trick and a shorthanded goal, his performances this season are sure to be remembered. Honored as Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Golden 'Gates, McAvoy has been a leader of the program both on and off the ice.
 
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.
 
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 senior Josh McKechney for the third straight year. Voted to serve as an assistant captain for the 2020-21 campaign, McKechney earned First Team All-ECAC honors and was named to the Raider Academic Honor Roll.
 
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.
 
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER – Pierson Brandon
Awarded annually to the player who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game, first-year Pierson Brandon was named Best Defensive Player. Competing in all 22 games for the Raiders, he led the team with his nine assists, 31 blocked shots, and plus-10 rating on the ice.
 
Behind his two-way play, Brandon was recognized as the program's first ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman in history, was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team, and to the Raider Academic Honor Roll. Earning his first multi-point night of his career with a pair of apples in the 4-3 win at Quinnipiac (March 6), Brandon had a season-high plus-3 rating on the ice in the same game.
 
TERRY SLATER TROPHY – Paul McAvoy
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 captain Paul McAvoy was honored with the Terry Slater Trophy for his embodiment of the program throughout his time at Colgate.
 
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 – Evan Tschumi
The Whit Williams Award is presented annually to the player who has great integrity and passion for the game of hockey, and through his commitment to excellence, improved the most over his career or season. Senior forward Evan Tschumi was honored with the Whit Williams Award after improving from three points in his junior season to six in his senior campaign.
 
Competing in 20 of the season's 22 games, Tschumi recorded six points by two goals and four assists behind two multi-point nights. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Tschumi had one goal in his sophomore year's 19 games, while improving his points and to 19 shots on goal as a senior.
 
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.
 
COACHES AWARD – Will Friend
A sportsman who contributes both on and off the ice, junior goaltender Will Friend was recognized by Colgate men's hockey head coach Don Vaughan with the annual Coaches Award. With a definition varying from year to year, the Coaches Award is given to the player who can be looked upon as an unsung hero and goes above and beyond for his teammates while facing adversity himself.
 
Described as a #TeamFirst and selfless component to the program, Friend fits all of those categories and then some. Coming to the Raiders as a walk-on his freshman year, Friend is a dedicated goalie who has yet to see game time, but contributes day-in and day-out with all team activities. Off the ice, Friend maintains a 3.81 cumulative GPA as a Physics and Astronomy double-major. A three-time Raider Academic Honor Roll member, Friend has been a two-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team member and was named as an AHCA / Krampade Academic All-Star in 2020.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.