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Clarkson hockey holds Booster Club awards banquet

Posted 4/22/12

The 2011-12 Clarkson University Hockey team was recognized at the annual Knight Club Booster Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 21. Family, friends, and booster club members paid tribute to the Golden …

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Clarkson hockey holds Booster Club awards banquet

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The 2011-12 Clarkson University Hockey team was recognized at the annual Knight Club Booster Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 21. Family, friends, and booster club members paid tribute to the Golden Knights and honored the seven seniors in the Class of 2012.

The Golden Knights’ Class of 2012 — Julien Cayer, Paul Karpowich, Richie LaVeau, Jake Morley, Louke Oakley, Corey Tamblyn and Nick Tremblay — helped Clarkson compile 50 victories and led the Golden Knights to their best season in four years this past winter.

2011-12 Clarkson Hockey Season in Review

Ten awards were announced at the banquet. Headlining the list of recipients was senior goaltender Paul Karpowich, who was named the Bill Harrison Clarkson Most Valuable Player in honor of the successful Clarkson coach of the late 1940s and 1950s.

Karpowich, who also earned the Knights’ MVP Award, last year, started 37 of 39 games, including all 22 ECAC Hockey contests. He was one of three finalists for the league’s Ken Dryden Award as the conference’s top goaltender and was named a Third-Team ECAC Hockey All-Star. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native tied for fourth in the nation with five shutouts and posted a .921 save percentage and a 2.46 goals against average en route to a 16-15-6 overall record. Clarkson’s all-time career save leader, Karpowich posted 3,735 stops through 130 career games, including a school record for saves in a season with 1,092 this past winter. He had 15 games with 30-or-more saves, including three 40+-save outings. Karpowich posted 50 saves, including 25 stops in overtime, in the 4-3 3ot victory over RPI (3/3) in the ECAC playoffs, the sixth longest game in NCAA history (113:48). He was honored as ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Month for October and twice selected as ECAC Goaltender of the Week (10/18, 2/20).

Karpowich signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Blues

Clarkson’s captain, Jake Morley was honored with the Mike Morrison Coaches’ Award for teamwork, hustle and dedication. The award was named in honor of the former Clarkson captain who died in a work accident on July 27, 1988.

The 6-2, 216-pound forward from Ogdensburg, New York battled through nagging injuries to play in 34 games and scored seven goals and added nine assists.

Morley was also presented with the inaugural Clarkson Ironman Award. The award represents the player, who in spite of being bruised, broken, spliced or otherwise hurt, most demonstrated the will and determination to overcome injuries and contribute to the team.

Junior defenseman Andrew Himelson was presented with the Richmond Unsung Award. Named in honor of loyal Clarkson followers Ernie and Connie Richmond, the Richmond award is presented to a Golden Knight who has shown improvement in his playing ability and displayed team leadership.

A native of Monroe, New York, Himelson developed into one of the Knights’ most reliable defenseman as the season progressed. He skated in 38 games and scored two goals, recorded six assists and was a team leader in plus/minus at +6.

Clarkson’s leading scorer, Nick Tremblay was honored with the Paul J. Pilon Award, as the hockey program’s top scholar-athlete. The award was established in the memory of the former Clarkson hockey player who died in a tragic car wreck in 1937.

Tremblay combined the duties of a Clarkson assistant captain with the rigorous demands of a graduate student while enrolled in Clarkson’s MBA program. A native of Candiac, Quebec, he posted a team-high 36 points on 17 goals and 19 assists through 37 games. He tallied a team-high six power-play goals and was especially strong down the stretch to help keep the Knights in contention for a top-four finish in the ECAC, tallying 21 points (8-13) in the 2012 portion of the schedule.

Louke Oakley was honored with the Fran Neragin Award. Named in honor of the loyal Clarkson hockey booster who passed away in 1984, the Neragin award is presented to a player who displays unselfish play and sportsmanship both on and off the ice.

A native of Whitby, Ontario, Oakley was the Green and Gold’s second-leading scorer with 35 points on 16 goals and 19 assists through 37 games. He tallied four power-play goals and connected for three game-winners. Oakley was strong down the stretch with 17 points (8-9) points in final 12 games of regular season to help keep Clarkson in contention for a top-four ECAC Hockey finish. He was named four times to the ECAC Hockey weekly Honor Roll.

Freshman defenseman Sam Labrecque was selected as the Knights’ Rookie of the Year. The Granby, Quebec native was Clarkson's leading rookie scorer overall and top offensive producer for the Green and Gold from the blueline. His 23 points, on eight goals and 15 assists, were the most by a Clarkson defenseman since current NHL player Randy Jones tallied 33 (13-20) in 2002-03. Labrecque was a key component on Clarkson's power play with 16 points (5-11) on the man-advantage.

Corey Tamblyn was the recipient of two awards. The Bobcaygeon, Ontario native was named Clarkson’s Best Defensive Player and is the inaugural winner of the North Country Award, presented to the Golden Knight who distinguished himself during the season series against archrival St. Lawrence.

Tamblyn was a solid two-way center, recording 18 points on seven goals and 11 assists and was one of Clarkson’s leading players on faceoffs. This winter against the Saints, he helped the Green and Gold sweep the ECAC Hockey series from St. Lawrence for the second straight year. He tallied a goal and an assist in the 5-3 win in Canton (12/6), scored against the Saints in the non-league contest in Lake Placid (12/10), and played a leading role in shutting down St. Lawrence’s top line in the 4-3 victory at Cheel Arena (1/21).

Next year's team leader was also announced at the banquet. Ben Sexton was named the Knights' captain for the 2012-13 campaign. A native of Kanata, Ontario, Sexton served as an assistant captain this past season in his sophomore campaign. He overcame an early season injury and emerged as a top offensive force down the stretch, averaging over a point per game with eight goals and 21 assists through 27 contests as Clarkson’s third-leading scorer. He led the Knights’ power play with a team-high 18 points on the man-advantage, including five goals.