Dutchmen Hand Out Awards at Annual Banquet

SCOTIA, NY - The Union College men's ice hockey team put the wraps on its historical 2008-09 season with the annual, year-ending, Garnet Blades Hockey Banquet at the Glen Sanders Manson on Sunday. For the second consecutive season, sophomore forward Adam Presizniuk was named the team's most valuable player. The team also recognized long time supporter, Frank Messa, who was giving the Appreciation Award.

Presizniuk is the fifth Dutchmen to repeat as team MVP since 1997 and his 2008-09 performance will mostly be remembered for his program-record-setting 38 points. An ECAC Hockey Third Team selection, Presizniuk unloaded a career-high 16 goals and 22 assists. He finished fourth in the conference for points and tied for third for assists. When he had a point the Dutchmen were 17-6-1 and 11-5-0 when he scored a goal. The team was 12-2-1 when he had an assist and 7-1-0 when Presizniuk had multiple points.

Head coach Nate Leaman along with associate head coach Rick Bennett and assistant coach Ben Barr gave the Coaches' Award to defenseman Brendan Milnamow. In 39 games, the senior produced a career-high nine goals and nine assists, while posting a plus-seven rating. Milnamow just returned for academic purposes form his stint with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL.

Sophomore forward Stéphane Boileau was given the Thomas VanArden Dukehart Award, which originated during the 1977-78 season to preserve the memory of Thomas VanArden Dukehart and is presented annually to the Union hockey player with the highest grade-point average.

Senior forward Kelly Zajac and sophomore Luke Cain also took home some hardware. Zajac was named the team's Rookie of the Year after leading all freshmen with 39 games played, 20 points, six goals and 14 assists. Cain was the Charles N. Morrison Award. The award is an endowed scholarship that was created from the gifts of friends in the memory of Charles N. Morrison, Union's head hockey coach from 1978 to 1988. It is given annually to a student who participates in extracurricular activities while demonstrating academic interest and achievement.

The Scott Richardson Unsung Hero Award went to sophomore forward Andrew Buote, who played 37 games, posting five goals behind three goals - all in the playoffs - and two assists.

Senior defenseman Mike Harr, who scored the game-winning goal against Clarkson during the last game of the regular season to clinch first round home ice in the ECACH playoffs, was given the das Design 7th Player Award. The honor is co-sponsored by das Design and Lee's Trophies and is presented to the Union hockey player recognized by the fans as an individual who, with extra effort and skill, consistently creates excitement and aggressive play, resulting in a team advantage.

Finally, forward Jon Lareau was dubbed Most Improved Player. The junior made the transition to defense to center and appeared in 21 games.

Union enjoyed a historic season, winning a school record 19 games and coming within a game of its first trip to Albany's Times Union Center and the ECAC Hockey Championships.