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Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Announces 16 Semi-Finalists for 62nd Walter Brown Award

Slate of American-born Division One hockey players in New England includes eight from , six from ECAC, two from Atlantic Hockey

BOSTON – February 3, 2013 – Gridiron Club of Greater Boston president Bob Norton announced today that 16 NCAA Division One players are semifinalists for the 62nd Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.

The nation’s oldest nationally-recognized college hockey honor, the Walter Brown Award was established in 1953 by the members of the 1933 Massachusetts Rangers, the first American team ever to win the World Championship Tournament. Brown coached the Rangers to the title in Prague, Czechoslovakia, that year; the team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the championship game.

Eleven teams are represented in the slate of candidates that includes eight players from Hockey East, six from ECAC Hockey, and two from Atlantic Hockey. The slate comprises 13 forwards, two goalies, and one defenseman. Boston College is the only team with three nominees. Yale, Quinnipiac, and Bentley each have two.

Atlantic Hockey’s two semifinalists are both from Bentley University. Senior forward Brett Gensler (St. Charles, MO), was the Walter Brown Award winner in 2012. He is currently second in scoring in Atlantic Hockey and fifth in the nation with 17-20-37. Junior Steve Weinstein (Los Angeles, CA), the lone defenseman,, leads all rearguards in scoring with 1-31-32.

In Hockey East, Boston College has been setting a hot pace, led by its top line of Walter Brown Award semifinalists: junior Johnny Gaudreau (Carney’s Point, NJ) and seniors Kevin Hayes (Dorchester, MA) and Bill Arnold (Needham, MA). Gaudreau leads the nation in scoring with 51 points and in goals with 23. Hayes is tied for second in the country with 19-26-45 while Arnold, the line’s playmaker, is sixth with 8-28-36.

The two semifinalist goaltenders play for the Hockey East teams that are currently tied for second in the league standings. Northeastern redshirt junior Clay Witt (Brandon, FL) played in just 16 varsity games before winning the starting job this season. He leads the nation in save percentage with .943 and is one of the major reasons for the Huskies’ resurgence this season. UML sophomore goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, MI) leads the country in goals-against average with 1.76.

Providence College junior Ross Mauermann (Janesville, WI) is enjoying another fine year, leading the balanced Friar attack in scoring with 16-15-31. Vermont senior Chris McCarthy (Collegeville, PA) heads all Catamounts in scoring with 13-14-27 while taking only two minor penalties to date. Boston University sophomore Danny O’Regan (Needham, MA) has been a mainstay in all zones for the Terriers and has 8-9-17 thus far.

In the ECAC, Quinnipiac currently holds down second place in the league standings. Freshman forward Sam Anas (Potomac, MD) leads the Bobcats’ offense and ranks tenth in the nation with 16-18-34. Senior forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT) is another major contributor, compiling a total of 12-14-26 thus far.

Quinnipiac’s Connecticut neighbor Yale, presently in sixth place, also has a pair of semifinalists. Seniors Kenny Agostino (Flanders, NJ) and Jesse Root (Pittsburgh, PA) head the Elis’ scoring parade with 10-11-21 and 7-13-20, respectively.

Rounding out the ECAC candidate slate are two sophomores who lead their respective teams in scoring to date. Harvard sophomore Jimmy Vesey (North Reading, MA) has rung up 6-11-17 for the Crimson while Brown sophomore Mark Naclerio (Milford, CT). Naclerio has posted 14-15-29 for the Bruins. Vesey was a Walter Brown Award semifinalist in 2012-13, as were Gaudreau, Agostino and Gensler.

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“The number of high-quality Division One hockey programs in New England has been growing for the past ten years or so. That has made it much more challenging than it used to be to select a roster of semifinalists for the Walter Brown Award. As usual, many players from all three leagues whose names do not appear here have played well enough to merit consideration.” said Gridiron Club Hockey Awards Committee chairman Tim Costello.

The Gridiron Club will announce the finalists and winner of the 62nd Walter Brown Award in March, following league playoffs and before the start of NCAA Tournament play. The award will be presented to the winner at the New England College Hockey Writers’ Dinner in April. Walter Brown Award Winners 1953 Ray Picard Northeastern 1985 Tim Army Providence 1954 Bob Babine Boston College 1986 Scott Fusco Harvard 1955 Bill Cleary Harvard Scott Harlow Boston College 1956 R.J. Cavanaugh Northeastern 1987 Brian Leetch Boston College 1957 Bob Cleary Harvard 1988 Mike McHugh Maine 1958 Bob Cleary Harvard 1989 Lane MacDonald Harvard 1959 Mike Karin Middlebury 1990 Greg Brown Boston College 1960 Art Chisholm Northeastern 1991 Dave Emma Boston College 1961 Tom Martin Boston College 1992 Rob Gaudreau Providence 1962 Dave Grannis Harvard 1993 Dave Sacco Boston University 1963 Bill Hogan Boston College 1994 Jacques Joubert Boston University 1964 Richie Green Boston University 1995 Mike Grier Boston University 1965 Bob Gaudreau Brown 1996 Jay Pandolfo Boston University 1966 Boston College 1997 Chris Drury Boston University 1967 Boston College 1998 Chris Drury Boston University 1968 Tim Sheehy Boston College 1999 Mike Mottau Boston College 1969 Paul Hurley Boston College Mike Omicioli Providence 1970 Tim Sheehy Boston College 2000 Mike Mottau Boston College 1971 Joe Cavanagh Harvard 2001 New Hampshire 1972 Bob McManama Harvard Boston College 1973 Tom Mellor Boston College 2002 Jim Fahey Northeastern 1974 Ed Walsh Boston University 2003 Mike Ayers New Hampshire 1975 Ron Wilson Providence 2004 Steve Saviano New Hampshire 1976 Richie Smith Boston College 2005 Dov Grumet-Morris Harvard 1977 Bob Miller New Hampshire 2006 Chris Collins Boston College 1978 Boston College 2007 John Curry Boston University 1979 Ralph Cox New Hampshire 2008 Kevin Regan New Hampshire 1980 Bill Army Boston College 2009 Matt Gilroy Boston University 1981 Mark Switaj Boston College 2010 Bobby Butler New Hampshire 1982 Chuck Marshall Northeastern 2011 John Muse Boston College 1983 Mark Fusco Harvard 2012 Brett Gensler Bentley University 1984 Cleon Daskalakis Boston University 2013 Steve Whitney Boston College

The Walter Brown Award Commemorating the life and works of America's greatest sportsman, the Walter Brown Award is given annually to the outstanding American-born college hockey player in New England. The Walter Brown Award is the oldest nationally recognized honor accorded to individual players in the sport of American college hockey. Brown coached the United States to its first world hockey championship in 1933. The U.S. team, the Massachusetts Rangers, comprised players from Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, and Boston Commerce High School. The Americans defeated the Toronto National Sea Fleas, coached by Harold Ballard, 2-1 in overtime in the final game of the 1933 World Tournament at Prague, Czechoslovakia. It was also America’s first win over a team from Canada and the first loss ever suffered by the Canadians in international play. The U.S. team members established the Walter Brown award at their 20th reunion in 1953. Criteria for the selection committee include leadership, character, sportsmanship, and ability as well as on-ice achievement. The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston has been the steward of the Walter Brown Award since 1977.

2013-2014 Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Officers: Bob Norton, President; Jim Kearney, First Vice President; Tom Lamb, Second Vice President; Dick Lawrence, Secretary/Treasurer.

2013-2014 Gridiron Club Hockey Awards Selection Committee and Advisory Board: Tim Costello, Chairman; Joe Bertagna, Tom Burke, Jim Connelly, Ned Cully, Bob DeGregorio, Kevin Fleming, Steve Hagwell, Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Hon. Gordon A. Martin, Jr., Paul McNamara, and William J. Stewart III.

Press Contacts: Tim Costello, Committee Chairman Phone: 732-425-5922 [email protected] Tom Burke, Communications Director Phone: 617-323-5694 [email protected]