Noah Wilson Named 2023 HCA Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award Winner
TAMPA, FL - Army West Point hockey senior Noah Wilson was named the 2022-23 Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced today at the Frozen Four.
The award was established by the HCA in honor of former Army hockey player Derek Hines, who was a “consummate team player and team builder.” Hines played at Army from 1999-2003 and was a four-year letter-winner as well as a co-captain his senior season. He was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 1, 2005 in Afghanistan. The award “recognizes a fearless leader and beloved fan favorite who always places his team first. Displaying exemplary sportsmanship, he's supremely competitive, intelligent and extraordinarily conditioned with an unmatched work ethic. The contributions of this individual, on and off the ice, cannot be measured by statistics alone.”
I feel incredibly proud to be the 2023 Recipient of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. Thank you to the Hockey Commissioners Association and the award selection committee for seeing me as fit to receive this award. To have my name mentioned in the same sentence as 1LT Derek Hines is an incredible honor and one that I do not take lightly. While every college hockey team is rooted in the traditions of their institution, Army Hockey is different in that our traditions are rooted in the history of our country and the great American heroes that have come before us. 1LT Hines is one of those heroes and someone who remains a special part of the Army Hockey Family and the greater West Point community. Being a cadet and hockey player who walks in the footsteps of 1LT Hines makes receiving this award all that more meaningful. I want to especially thank Coach Riley, the entire Army Hockey staff, and all my brothers who I went to battle with over the past four years. Any individual reward is the result of the collective effort of a team and that could not be any truer in this case. Hinesy was and always will be an Army Hockey player, and I am so proud to be able to bring his award back home to West Point.”Noah Wilson, Army Hockey Class of 2023
Noah has served as the team’s head Cadet liaison with Team Impact, as local kid Seff Villanueva was welcomed into the Army Hockey family. Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a longterm, life-changing experience and bond for both parties involved. Noah has hosted Seff and his family at West Point hockey games and practices, along with Army Football and other events around post. During his time as a Cadet, Noah has consistently helped plan and execute the annual Mid-Hudson Valley Regional Special Olympics, held at Shea Stadium on West Point. The event includes more than 900 Special Olympians, 4,000 family members and friends, and 20+ agencies on and off the military installation. Cadet-athletes have little free time at West Point, and Noah has always used his free time to give back to the community and hockey program. Noah has also played a key role in mentoring kids on and off the ice through Army’s Junior Black Knights hockey program. The JBK’s is a youth hockey team under the Army Hockey umbrella, in which Noah has constantly been involved in increasing interaction between the youth team and the Army hockey team
Wilson began his Army career playing forward during his plebe campaign on 2019-20. After skating in 25 games during his freshman season, Wilson made the switch to defenseman for his sophomore year. He acclimated seamlessly into his new role, playing 52 games on defense across his next two seasons. Wilson set the single-season program record in 2021-22 with 84 blocked shots, filling the role he saw fit for himself on the defensive end.
We went to Noah and said 'What would you think if we moved you from defense to forward?' and without hesitation he told me 'Coach, I'll do whatever is best for the team.'Brian Riley, Army Hockey Head Coach
It's not just on the ice. Hinesy just had a way with people, and Noah is the same way. He won't walk by a person without smiling and saying hello to them. He makes time for everybody.
After Wilson was named an alternate captain ahead of his senior season, Army began the year with a (1-7-1) record in the opening nine games. Needing a spark coming into a pivotal eight-game stretch of league games to save the season, one adjustment made was moving Wilson back to forward for the first time in over two years. Army responded over the ensuing four series, posting a (5-2-1) record before the midseason break to get back into the playoff race. Army eventually ended the season with a (12-12-2) record in conference play, securing the fifth seed in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. Wilson's plus-minus was the fourth-highest on the team as he played the final 28 games of the year up front.
Wilson came to West Point with a familiar face in the locker room. Noah's older brother, Michael, was entering his firstie season on the hockey team. Michael played in 110 games in a successful career at Army, scoring 36 goals and registering 67 points across his four seasons. The 2022-23 season marked the seventh straight in which ‘Wilson’ was on the back of a jersey for the Black Knights.
The only way to truly describe the emotions connected to watching Noah receive the Derek Hines award is the word loyalty. As a teammate and brother, I have watched Noah do things that very few people do, yet he does it consistently. Whether it’s blocking 90mph one-timers on the penalty kill or just being the ultimate teammate, Noah demonstrates all the right characteristics of what a humble and loyal type of leader Hinesy displayed. As a brother I am truly proud of him but as a person on the outside looking in, I feel full confidence in Noah leading the sons and daughters of this country.Michael Wilson, Army Hockey Class of 2020
Wilson is the second Army West Point player and fifth player from Atlantic Hockey to win the award in its 17-year history. The other Cadet was Chase Podsiad in 2008, the second year of its existence. The other finalists for this year’s award were junior defenseman Steven Holtz from Michigan, junior forward Louis Jamernik, from North Dakota. senior defenseman Luke Krys from Brown, and junior defenseman Tony Malinowski from Minnesota State.
The HCA coordinates the award, with nominations from each of the six Division I men’s hockey conferences. The selection committee, made up of the six conference media contacts, Lt. Steve Hines, Derek’s father, and Army West Point head coach Brian Riley, vote on the winner.