Army West Point Athletics
Hockey Celebrates Season at Team Banquet
May 10, 2021 | Hockey
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey team got together over the weekend for its annual team banquet to celebrate a historic 2020-21 season and hand out its team awards.
In addition to the team awards given out, the Black Knights announced Colin Bilek and Eric Butte as the team captains for the 2021-22 season, while Daniel Haider and Thomas Farrell were voted alternate captains.
Henry "Hal" Beukema Award
Henry "Hal" Beukema (USMA '44) was the captain of the 1944 Army hockey team and the son of a distinguished department head at the Academy. Following his graduation from West Point, Beukema became an Air Force pilot and served overseas in Berlin as well as in the states at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. He died in a crash near Langley AFB in Virginia on Jan. 19, 1954, after achieving the rank of major.
The Beukema Award, which was initiated in 1955, is given each year in the memory of Maj. Beukema to the Army hockey team's most valuable player, and is voted on by team members.
2020-21 recipient: Colin Bilek
The Gunning Award
This accolade is presented in recognition of the Cadet who displays the qualities of "academic excellence, selfless dedication to his teammates, being a trusted friend, maintaining a sense of humor, playing through pain and adversity, and demonstrating a true love for hockey." The Michael J. Gunning Award is named in honor of the late Cadet letterman that died Oct. 12, 1996, following a hit-and-run accident in Dallas, Texas.
Gunning, a 1996 USMA graduate, was a 2nd Lt. stationed at Ft. Sill, Okla., at the time of his death. One of the team's behind-the-scenes leaders, Gunning typified the rugged, aggressive brand of hockey for which Army teams are renowned. He also personified perseverance, spending two seasons on the junior varsity team before finally earning a shot with the varsity. He closed his career with a stellar senior year as the center on Army's forechecking line.
2020-21 recipient: John Zimmerman
The Haggerty Award
This honor is presented annually to the Army hockey player who displays courage, determination and perseverance throughout the season. The Army hockey program was hit with a devastating setback on April 13, 1998, when Paul Haggerty — a 1991 West Point graduate, three-year letterman for the Army hockey team and an assistant coach under Rob Riley since 1996 —died suddenly during a workout.
A former Beukema Award winner, Haggerty led Army with 16 goals during his senior season and was second on the team with 25 points. A tough, hard-skating forward, he spent his senior season on the Black Knights' top line. He appeared in 86 games during his four-year career, missing only four contests over his final three seasons and registering 27 goals and 43 points. Prior to his call-up to the varsity, Haggerty spent time with the junior varsity during his freshman year.
2020-21 recipient: Cody Fleckenstein
The Heinmiller Award
This award is presented to the team's Outstanding Freshman of the Year in honor of former player John Heinmiller. Heinmiller had just completed his freshman season with the Army hockey team when he was tragically killed in a train accident in April, 2001.
Heinmiller started his college hockey career with the junior varsity program at West Point, but worked his way onto the varsity squad. He appeared in one game his plebe season. The inaugural John Heinmiller Award was presented to freshman forward Chris Garceau in 2002.
2020-21 recipient: Mitch Machlitt
The Maj. Tom Kennedy Award
The Major Tom Kennedy Award is named for the former Army player, Officer Representative and supporter of the Black Knights. The award is presented to a player who exemplifies the great characteristics of Major Kennedy: a hard worker who will do anything to help the team. The winner of this prestigious award goes to an unsung contributor who goes above and beyond to help his teammates and personifies what made "TK" such a great person.
2020-21 recipient: Matt Berkovitz
The Derek Hines Award
The Derek S. Hines Award recognizes a person who has displayed an extraordinary amount of support toward the Army Hockey Program. Like Derek, this person has always cared more about giving than receiving, while displaying a great passion and love for Army Hockey. The Army hockey family added a fifth team award to its list of postseason honors in 2006 in order to recognize Hines, who was killed in action on September 1, 2005.
A scrappy and hard-nosed player, who earned four varsity letters and graduated from the Academy in 2003, Hines was a fan favorite and one of the most respected players in the Black Knights' locker room.
2020-21 recipients: Robert Demeuse and Phil Kammler
In addition to the team awards given out, the Black Knights announced Colin Bilek and Eric Butte as the team captains for the 2021-22 season, while Daniel Haider and Thomas Farrell were voted alternate captains.
Henry "Hal" Beukema Award
Henry "Hal" Beukema (USMA '44) was the captain of the 1944 Army hockey team and the son of a distinguished department head at the Academy. Following his graduation from West Point, Beukema became an Air Force pilot and served overseas in Berlin as well as in the states at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. He died in a crash near Langley AFB in Virginia on Jan. 19, 1954, after achieving the rank of major.
The Beukema Award, which was initiated in 1955, is given each year in the memory of Maj. Beukema to the Army hockey team's most valuable player, and is voted on by team members.
2020-21 recipient: Colin Bilek
The Gunning Award
This accolade is presented in recognition of the Cadet who displays the qualities of "academic excellence, selfless dedication to his teammates, being a trusted friend, maintaining a sense of humor, playing through pain and adversity, and demonstrating a true love for hockey." The Michael J. Gunning Award is named in honor of the late Cadet letterman that died Oct. 12, 1996, following a hit-and-run accident in Dallas, Texas.
Gunning, a 1996 USMA graduate, was a 2nd Lt. stationed at Ft. Sill, Okla., at the time of his death. One of the team's behind-the-scenes leaders, Gunning typified the rugged, aggressive brand of hockey for which Army teams are renowned. He also personified perseverance, spending two seasons on the junior varsity team before finally earning a shot with the varsity. He closed his career with a stellar senior year as the center on Army's forechecking line.
2020-21 recipient: John Zimmerman
The Haggerty Award
This honor is presented annually to the Army hockey player who displays courage, determination and perseverance throughout the season. The Army hockey program was hit with a devastating setback on April 13, 1998, when Paul Haggerty — a 1991 West Point graduate, three-year letterman for the Army hockey team and an assistant coach under Rob Riley since 1996 —died suddenly during a workout.
A former Beukema Award winner, Haggerty led Army with 16 goals during his senior season and was second on the team with 25 points. A tough, hard-skating forward, he spent his senior season on the Black Knights' top line. He appeared in 86 games during his four-year career, missing only four contests over his final three seasons and registering 27 goals and 43 points. Prior to his call-up to the varsity, Haggerty spent time with the junior varsity during his freshman year.
2020-21 recipient: Cody Fleckenstein
The Heinmiller Award
This award is presented to the team's Outstanding Freshman of the Year in honor of former player John Heinmiller. Heinmiller had just completed his freshman season with the Army hockey team when he was tragically killed in a train accident in April, 2001.
Heinmiller started his college hockey career with the junior varsity program at West Point, but worked his way onto the varsity squad. He appeared in one game his plebe season. The inaugural John Heinmiller Award was presented to freshman forward Chris Garceau in 2002.
2020-21 recipient: Mitch Machlitt
The Maj. Tom Kennedy Award
The Major Tom Kennedy Award is named for the former Army player, Officer Representative and supporter of the Black Knights. The award is presented to a player who exemplifies the great characteristics of Major Kennedy: a hard worker who will do anything to help the team. The winner of this prestigious award goes to an unsung contributor who goes above and beyond to help his teammates and personifies what made "TK" such a great person.
2020-21 recipient: Matt Berkovitz
The Derek Hines Award
The Derek S. Hines Award recognizes a person who has displayed an extraordinary amount of support toward the Army Hockey Program. Like Derek, this person has always cared more about giving than receiving, while displaying a great passion and love for Army Hockey. The Army hockey family added a fifth team award to its list of postseason honors in 2006 in order to recognize Hines, who was killed in action on September 1, 2005.
A scrappy and hard-nosed player, who earned four varsity letters and graduated from the Academy in 2003, Hines was a fan favorite and one of the most respected players in the Black Knights' locker room.
2020-21 recipients: Robert Demeuse and Phil Kammler
Players Mentioned
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