Upcoming Event: Men's Ice Hockey versus Norwich on October 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
3:00 PM
Men's Ice Hockey
vs Norwich
Thompson Arena
Photo by: John and Matt Risley
Big Green Hand Out 2019-20 Team Awards
5/6/2020 2:14:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Gaudet announced team awards for his final season.
HANOVER, N.H. – The 2019-20 Dartmouth men's hockey team awards were announced during an online meeting in late April.
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In his final team meeting, Koenig Family Head Coach Bob Gaudet '81 and his staff presented this year's honors to the five members of the team who were selected by a vote of their peers to be the recipient of this season's awards.
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PHELAN AWARD (TEAM MVP) & LEADING SCORER AWARD (MOST POINTS): Drew O'Connor
The Phelan Award is annually chosen by teammates and presented to the player who, by demonstrating outstanding skill at his position, continued aggressiveness and team spirit, deserves to be named the 'Most Valuable Player of The Year'. This award is in honor of ardent Dartmouth hockey enthusiast, Martha M. Phelan, wife of John Phelan '28 and mother of John Phelan, Jr. '63, captain of the 1963 Dartmouth men's hockey team.
Sophomore Drew O'Connor was named the recipient of the Phelan Award as the team's most valuable player after a standout campaign that netted him a wealth of individual accolades. The 2019-20 Ivy league Co-Player of the Year was also a member of the first team for both ECAC Hockey and the Ivy League in addition to being named to the All-New England Team. He was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week a league-leading three times during the season in which he scored 21 goals and finished with 33 points. His 21 goals not only were the most of any player in ECAC Hockey — becoming the first Dartmouth player ever to lead the conference in total goals in doing so — but ranked fifth in the nation, the highest finish by a Dartmouth player in a half century. His 16 goals in ECAC Hockey play were the most of any player, making him the first Big Green student-athlete to accomplish that since 1979-80. His 0.68 goals per game ranked fourth nationally.
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O'Connor's point total earned him The Friends of Dartmouth Hockey Leading Scorer Award as he became the first Big Green skater in five years to break the 30-point mark, while also becoming the first to reach 20 goals in a season since 2009-10.
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Following the conclusion of the season, O'Connor signed an NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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MANSER AWARD (MOST IMPROVED): Brendan Less
Chosen by his teammates and coaches as the "Most Improved Varsity Player" during that season, the Manser Award is named for and given in honor of George 'Johnny' Manser '26, captain of the 1926 varsity team and the first president of the Friends of Dartmouth Men's Hockey.
A rock on defense, junior Brendan Less was tabbed as the recipient of the Manser Award as the team's most improved player. Appearing in every game for the first time in his career, Less was the team leader in plus/minus with a +8. He finished the season with nine points on one goal and eight helpers, while called for just five penalties, an impressive feat given his minutes logged and his role in the team's defensive end.
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BOOMA AWARD (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR): Tanner Palocsik
The Booma Award is presented to the player who through determination, desire, dedication, and ability earns the 'Rookie of The Year' award. This award is given in honor of Roland C. Booma '30, an all-around Dartmouth athlete, including football and baseball in addition to his role with the hockey program.
Perhaps the most underrated player in the league regardless of year and position, Tanner Palocsik had a breakout first season in Hanover and was named the Booma Award winner as the team's rookie of the year. Palocsik led the entire nation in points (24) by a rookie defenseman in 2019-20. His 19 assists were the most by any player on the Dartmouth roster, while second nationally by a first-year blueliner. He was second in ECAC Hockey in scoring by a rookie and was tabbed as an All-Ivy League Second Team player.
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SMOYER AWARD (UNSUNG HERO): Dean Shatzer
The Smoyer Award is given to the player who has made the most unusual contribution to Dartmouth men's hockey each year. These contributions are measured more by intangible factors than statistical results and is commonly referred to as the team's "Unsung Hero". The award is in honor of Bill Smoyer '67, captain of the 1967 team and an outstanding soccer player who was sadly killed in Vietnam.
Just the fourth player in Dartmouth history to be named the recipient of the Smoyer twice, senior goaltender Dean Shatzer was the definition of an unsung hero for this year's team. The Colorado native appeared in only one game this season — coming in for the final minutes of Senior Day vs. RPI — but that was not a true indication of Shatzer's immense value to the Big Green. A reliable teammate and friend, he was one of the hardest-working players at practice on a daily basis, making those skates far more challenging for teammates preparing to play against some of the nation's best programs. Shatzer shared the honor with River Rymsha '18 as a sophomore, but was singled out by his peers in his final season in Hanover.
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McINNIS AWARD (SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR): Cam Strong
The McInnis Award is chosen by the players to honor the individual who has best reflected spirit, camaraderie, loyalty and dedication to Dartmouth men's hockey and to Dartmouth College. Those same characteristics were demonstrated throughout his lifetime by Philip McInnis '36, president of the Friends of Men's Hockey from 1979 through 1984 and in whose honor this award is given each year.
Another two-time award-winner, senior Cam Strong also took home this accolade as a sophomore in 2018. An alternate captain, he was the lone senior in a class of nine to wear a letter on his jersey this season. The Montana native played in all 31 games in his final season wearing the green and white, scoring six goals, including one game-winner. A member of Dartmouth's checking line, Strong was called for just six minor penalties, a true accomplishment for a player tasked with not only offensive responsibilities, but also playing tough, physical hockey against the opposition's top skaters.
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In his final team meeting, Koenig Family Head Coach Bob Gaudet '81 and his staff presented this year's honors to the five members of the team who were selected by a vote of their peers to be the recipient of this season's awards.
Â
PHELAN AWARD (TEAM MVP) & LEADING SCORER AWARD (MOST POINTS): Drew O'Connor
The Phelan Award is annually chosen by teammates and presented to the player who, by demonstrating outstanding skill at his position, continued aggressiveness and team spirit, deserves to be named the 'Most Valuable Player of The Year'. This award is in honor of ardent Dartmouth hockey enthusiast, Martha M. Phelan, wife of John Phelan '28 and mother of John Phelan, Jr. '63, captain of the 1963 Dartmouth men's hockey team.
Sophomore Drew O'Connor was named the recipient of the Phelan Award as the team's most valuable player after a standout campaign that netted him a wealth of individual accolades. The 2019-20 Ivy league Co-Player of the Year was also a member of the first team for both ECAC Hockey and the Ivy League in addition to being named to the All-New England Team. He was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week a league-leading three times during the season in which he scored 21 goals and finished with 33 points. His 21 goals not only were the most of any player in ECAC Hockey — becoming the first Dartmouth player ever to lead the conference in total goals in doing so — but ranked fifth in the nation, the highest finish by a Dartmouth player in a half century. His 16 goals in ECAC Hockey play were the most of any player, making him the first Big Green student-athlete to accomplish that since 1979-80. His 0.68 goals per game ranked fourth nationally.
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O'Connor's point total earned him The Friends of Dartmouth Hockey Leading Scorer Award as he became the first Big Green skater in five years to break the 30-point mark, while also becoming the first to reach 20 goals in a season since 2009-10.
Â
Following the conclusion of the season, O'Connor signed an NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Â
MANSER AWARD (MOST IMPROVED): Brendan Less
Chosen by his teammates and coaches as the "Most Improved Varsity Player" during that season, the Manser Award is named for and given in honor of George 'Johnny' Manser '26, captain of the 1926 varsity team and the first president of the Friends of Dartmouth Men's Hockey.
A rock on defense, junior Brendan Less was tabbed as the recipient of the Manser Award as the team's most improved player. Appearing in every game for the first time in his career, Less was the team leader in plus/minus with a +8. He finished the season with nine points on one goal and eight helpers, while called for just five penalties, an impressive feat given his minutes logged and his role in the team's defensive end.
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BOOMA AWARD (ROOKIE OF THE YEAR): Tanner Palocsik
The Booma Award is presented to the player who through determination, desire, dedication, and ability earns the 'Rookie of The Year' award. This award is given in honor of Roland C. Booma '30, an all-around Dartmouth athlete, including football and baseball in addition to his role with the hockey program.
Perhaps the most underrated player in the league regardless of year and position, Tanner Palocsik had a breakout first season in Hanover and was named the Booma Award winner as the team's rookie of the year. Palocsik led the entire nation in points (24) by a rookie defenseman in 2019-20. His 19 assists were the most by any player on the Dartmouth roster, while second nationally by a first-year blueliner. He was second in ECAC Hockey in scoring by a rookie and was tabbed as an All-Ivy League Second Team player.
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SMOYER AWARD (UNSUNG HERO): Dean Shatzer
The Smoyer Award is given to the player who has made the most unusual contribution to Dartmouth men's hockey each year. These contributions are measured more by intangible factors than statistical results and is commonly referred to as the team's "Unsung Hero". The award is in honor of Bill Smoyer '67, captain of the 1967 team and an outstanding soccer player who was sadly killed in Vietnam.
Just the fourth player in Dartmouth history to be named the recipient of the Smoyer twice, senior goaltender Dean Shatzer was the definition of an unsung hero for this year's team. The Colorado native appeared in only one game this season — coming in for the final minutes of Senior Day vs. RPI — but that was not a true indication of Shatzer's immense value to the Big Green. A reliable teammate and friend, he was one of the hardest-working players at practice on a daily basis, making those skates far more challenging for teammates preparing to play against some of the nation's best programs. Shatzer shared the honor with River Rymsha '18 as a sophomore, but was singled out by his peers in his final season in Hanover.
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McINNIS AWARD (SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR): Cam Strong
The McInnis Award is chosen by the players to honor the individual who has best reflected spirit, camaraderie, loyalty and dedication to Dartmouth men's hockey and to Dartmouth College. Those same characteristics were demonstrated throughout his lifetime by Philip McInnis '36, president of the Friends of Men's Hockey from 1979 through 1984 and in whose honor this award is given each year.
Another two-time award-winner, senior Cam Strong also took home this accolade as a sophomore in 2018. An alternate captain, he was the lone senior in a class of nine to wear a letter on his jersey this season. The Montana native played in all 31 games in his final season wearing the green and white, scoring six goals, including one game-winner. A member of Dartmouth's checking line, Strong was called for just six minor penalties, a true accomplishment for a player tasked with not only offensive responsibilities, but also playing tough, physical hockey against the opposition's top skaters.
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Players Mentioned
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