Army West Point Athletics
Hockey Hands Out Team Awards
May 22, 2015 | Hockey
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Army West Point hockey team held its team banquet recently and Tyler Pham was named the recipient of the Henry "Hal" Beukema Award winner as the team's Most Valuable Player. Captains for the 2015-16 season were also announced at the event.
Pham earned the Beukema Award and the John Heinmiller Award, which is presented to the Outstanding Freshman of the Year. Mac Lalor, Josh Richards, Maurice Alvarez and Zak Zaremba were also honored with awards, while supporter Mark Aikman was given the Derek Hines ward.
Pham, a Fort Collins, Colo., native, was the leading scorer for the Black Knights and was named the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year. He led the team with 29 points on nine goals and 20 assists.
He is the sixth-straight forward to win the MVP award, joining Brian Schultz, Andy Starczewski, Mike Hull, Eric Sefchik and Cody Omilusik. The award honors Henry "Hal" Beukema who died in a plane crash in 1954 after attaining the rank of major. The team MVP award has been given out every year since 1955 and is voted on by team members.
Pham earned the Heinmiller Award, named in honor of John Heinmiller who was killed in a train accident following his freshman season. In addition to being named the top rookie, Pham was selected to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team after leading the conference first-year skaters in points. He is the second Army player since Owen Meyer in 2010 to reach the 20-point plateau as a rookie.
The Paul Haggerty Award went to tri-captain Mac Lalor. The award is named in honor of Paul Haggerty, a 1991 West Point graduate who worked his way up from junior varsity to the first line and later served as an Army assistant coach. He died suddenly during a workout early in his coaching career. Paul's son, Luke, presented Lalor with the award after noting the many similarities in their work ethic and commitment. The senior defenseman was sidelined with a leg injury for most of the season, but came back for the final two weekends of the season, including the Sacred Heart series where he scored in the second game.
Richards and Alvarez were both winners of the Gunning Award for academic excellence. The award is named for Michael J. Gunning, a cadet letterman who died following a hit-and-run accident. It is presented in recognition of the cadet who displays the qualities of academic excellence, selfless dedication to his teammates, a trusted friend and a player who demonstrates true love for the game. Richards, who was a tri-captain for the 2014-15 season, and Alvarez each reached the 100 games played plateau. Richards had 30 points in 118 games, while Alvarez landed at the 50-point mark in 132 contests.
The Maj. Tom Kennedy Award, named in memory of Major Tom Kennedy, a former Army player, Officer Representative and supporter of the Black Knights, was awarded to Zaremba. The award is presented to a player who exemplifies the great characteristics of Major Kennedy: a hard worker with a team-first attitude who will do anything to help the team. The winner of this prestigious award goes to the team's unsung contributor who goes above and beyond to help his teammates and personifies what made "TK" such a great person. Zaremba added to his awards for 2014-15 as he was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award from Atlantic Hockey.
Aikman, who can be seen at Tate Rink and on the road taking photos at almost every game, was named the Derek Hines Award winner. The award honors Hines, a scrappy and hard-nosed player who was a fan favorite and one of the most respected players in the locker room. It recognizes a person who has displayed an extraordinary amount of support to the Army hockey program and shares values that Derek did, cared more about giving than receiving and displayed great passion and love for the Army hockey family. Derek was killed in action in 2005. 2LT Michael Santee presented Aikman with the award.
After distributing team awards and varsity letters, Lalor and Richards officially passed the team captain's torch to soon-to-be seniors Christian Pomarico and Joe Kozlak, while Pham was named an alternate captain for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
Pham earned the Beukema Award and the John Heinmiller Award, which is presented to the Outstanding Freshman of the Year. Mac Lalor, Josh Richards, Maurice Alvarez and Zak Zaremba were also honored with awards, while supporter Mark Aikman was given the Derek Hines ward.
Pham, a Fort Collins, Colo., native, was the leading scorer for the Black Knights and was named the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year. He led the team with 29 points on nine goals and 20 assists.
He is the sixth-straight forward to win the MVP award, joining Brian Schultz, Andy Starczewski, Mike Hull, Eric Sefchik and Cody Omilusik. The award honors Henry "Hal" Beukema who died in a plane crash in 1954 after attaining the rank of major. The team MVP award has been given out every year since 1955 and is voted on by team members.
Pham earned the Heinmiller Award, named in honor of John Heinmiller who was killed in a train accident following his freshman season. In addition to being named the top rookie, Pham was selected to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team after leading the conference first-year skaters in points. He is the second Army player since Owen Meyer in 2010 to reach the 20-point plateau as a rookie.
The Paul Haggerty Award went to tri-captain Mac Lalor. The award is named in honor of Paul Haggerty, a 1991 West Point graduate who worked his way up from junior varsity to the first line and later served as an Army assistant coach. He died suddenly during a workout early in his coaching career. Paul's son, Luke, presented Lalor with the award after noting the many similarities in their work ethic and commitment. The senior defenseman was sidelined with a leg injury for most of the season, but came back for the final two weekends of the season, including the Sacred Heart series where he scored in the second game.
Richards and Alvarez were both winners of the Gunning Award for academic excellence. The award is named for Michael J. Gunning, a cadet letterman who died following a hit-and-run accident. It is presented in recognition of the cadet who displays the qualities of academic excellence, selfless dedication to his teammates, a trusted friend and a player who demonstrates true love for the game. Richards, who was a tri-captain for the 2014-15 season, and Alvarez each reached the 100 games played plateau. Richards had 30 points in 118 games, while Alvarez landed at the 50-point mark in 132 contests.
The Maj. Tom Kennedy Award, named in memory of Major Tom Kennedy, a former Army player, Officer Representative and supporter of the Black Knights, was awarded to Zaremba. The award is presented to a player who exemplifies the great characteristics of Major Kennedy: a hard worker with a team-first attitude who will do anything to help the team. The winner of this prestigious award goes to the team's unsung contributor who goes above and beyond to help his teammates and personifies what made "TK" such a great person. Zaremba added to his awards for 2014-15 as he was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award from Atlantic Hockey.
Aikman, who can be seen at Tate Rink and on the road taking photos at almost every game, was named the Derek Hines Award winner. The award honors Hines, a scrappy and hard-nosed player who was a fan favorite and one of the most respected players in the locker room. It recognizes a person who has displayed an extraordinary amount of support to the Army hockey program and shares values that Derek did, cared more about giving than receiving and displayed great passion and love for the Army hockey family. Derek was killed in action in 2005. 2LT Michael Santee presented Aikman with the award.
After distributing team awards and varsity letters, Lalor and Richards officially passed the team captain's torch to soon-to-be seniors Christian Pomarico and Joe Kozlak, while Pham was named an alternate captain for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
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