UNB's Bennett and Gazzola, StFX's Marchand capture national men's hockey awards

FREDERICTON (U SPORTS) – UNB forward Kris Bennett captured the Clare Drake Award as Rookie of the Year, while Varsity Reds teammate Randy Gazzola was named the winner of the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award as most sportsmanlike player Wednesday night, as the national award winners were celebrated at the annual All-Canadian gala.

Concordia forward Anthony Beauregard was honoured with the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as U SPORTS men's hockey Player of the Year.

In addition, Alberta blueliner Jason Fram and StFX netminder Chase Marchand took home Defenceman of the Year and Goaltender of the Year respectively, while Saskatchewan forward Kendall McFaull earned the Dr. Randy Gregg Award for Student-Athlete Community Service. Finally, McGill bench boss Kelly Nobes is the winner of Father George Kehoe Memorial Award as Coach of the Year.

CLARE DRAKE AWARD (Rookie of the Year): Kris Bennett, UNB

Kris Bennett is the winner the Clare Drak Award as U SPORTS men's hockey Rookie of the Year.  

In just his first year with the Varsity Reds program, Bennett finished second in the conference and tied for fifth nationally in goal-scoring with 18 goals in the regular season. In 30 games, the Brampton, Ont., native finished eighth overall across the country in points, adding 20 assists this season. He finished with a plus-minus rating of plus-15. 

The 22-year-old joined UNB after five seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Saginaw Spirit, where he amassed 114 points in 195 games. 

Bennett becomes the second UNB winner of the Clare Drak Award joining Kevin Young who earned the honour in 2003-04, and Ryan Lindsay who won in 1997-98. 

GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR: Chase Marchand, StFX

A second-year Arts student from Halifax, N.S., Chase Marchand played in 22 games for the X-Men this season posting a 16-5-0 record, and led the AUS with a save percentage of .924 and a win percentage of .762. His goals against average of 2.38 was the second best in AUS. His 16 wins topped the AUS and tied for second overall in U SPORTS, as he backstopped the X-Men to a second-place finish in the AUS standings, to go along with a U SPORTS top five ranking all season long. In addition, Marchand was named a First Team All-Canadian.

 "Chase has had on outstanding season for our team. Coming off an AUS first team all-star selection and playoff MVP last year in only his first season, he has followed it up with an even better year," said StFX head coach Brad Peddle. "He is a very deserving of this award and has been among the tops in every major goaltending category in the AUS and U SPOSRTS consistently all season. Chase has an outstanding work ethic, is a tremendous person and teammate, and has established himself as one of the premier U SPORTS goaltenders."

R.W. PUGH FAIR PLAY AWARD (Most Sportsmanlike Player): Randy Gazzola, UNB

In his fourth season with the UNB Varsity Reds, defenceman Randy Gazzola is the recipient of the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award as the most sportsmanlike player in the nation.

A first-year MBA student from Thorold, Ont., Gazzola finished the regular season with 24 points. He scored six goals and 18 assists and finished with a plus-minus rating of plus-13. In 30 games, he amassed just eight penalty minutes. 

In his four AUS regular seasons, Gazzola has suited up for 110 games, tallying 85 points and taken just 52 career regular season penalty minutes. 

Gazzola was also named to the AUS second team all-star squad, for the second time in his career. He is the second Varsity Reds player to be named the most sportsmanlike player, after Chris Culligan took home the honour in 2014.

2018 U SPORTS MEN'S HOCKEY ALL-CANADIANS
(AUS winners in bold.)

First Team

Second Team

All-Rookie Team

For the complete U SPORTS release, please click here.

Source: U SPORTS Communications