OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Alex Wilkinson of the Army West Point hockey team was one of the 20 top NCAA® men’s ice hockey student-athletes, who excel both on and off the ice, and has been selected as a candidate for the 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award®.
“Alex Wilkinson has been an asset to our team since coming to West Point both on and off the ice,” said head coach Brian Riley. “It goes without saying that he is one of the best defensemen to come through our program. He has received league recognition for his play in each of his three seasons. Voted to the All-Rookie Team, Team MVP, First Team All-AHA and AHA Best Defensemen. Last season, although he missed a month due to injury, he still was the second in scoring on our team. Alex plays the game the right way and always has the utmost request for his opponents. In his three seasons, he’s only recorded nine penalties. He is well respected by his coaches and teammates and was voted a captain this season. As a leader, he shows his teammates every day how to do things the right way. He is a great example of what a true leader is and always helps the younger players. They look up to him as a player and a leader. He is a great representative of our program, but even more so of the U.S. Military Academy.”
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 20 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists in February, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2020 NCAA Men’s Frozen Final Four® in April.
Wilkinson majors in French and ranks in the top half of his class boasting a 3.094 GPA. He has been on Dean’s List all, but one semester. This past summer, Wilkinson served as a Platoon Leader for BEAST 1 in charge of 38 new Cadets for summer training.
The Raleigh, N.C., takes time each summer to volunteer for the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation which honors soldiers killed in action and setting up scholarships for their children. Wilkinson and the hockey team are always participating in highway cleanups around West Point and is always supporting young fans at the yearly Skate with the Black Knight events.
