BY RANDY SCHULTZ –
The 2021-2022 Tyler Putnam Awards Banquet was recently held at the Webster Golf Club in Webster, NY. Twenty-one Rochester/Syracuse area youth and high school hockey players received Putnam Awards, while two other players received the Unsung Hero and Goaltender Awards, respectively.
Tyler Putnam was known for his high energy, incredible work ethic and his desire to achieve his goals. He has been memorialized with a banner hanging above the ice in the Lakeshore Hockey Arena as well as a memorial helmet sticker that dawns the symbol of a gold hardhat – a symbol of Putnam’s hard work and dedication to the game he loved.
The 21 hockey players that received a Putnam Award include: C.J. Mangone, Aquinas Institute; Andrew Kasmarek, Batavia/Genesee High School; Tyler Van Putte, Pittsford High School; Aidan Stappenbeck, Webster Thomas High School; Evan Bovee, Brockport High School.
Alex Smola, Monroe County Youth Hockey; Christian Kurz, Victor High School; Kaden Fioreca, Greece Storm; John Rinella, Rush-Henrietta High School; Helen Van Damme; Rochester Girls Edge.
Brent Donlon, McQuaid Jesuit High School; Logan Callen, Hilton High School; Colton Mantha, Irondequoit High School; Zachary Neu, Spencerport High School; Tanner Smith, Rochester Youth Hockey.
Ethan Palmer, Canandaigua Academy; Owen Fox, Penfield High School; Gus Landt, Brighton/HFL/ER High School; Leo Sunday, Gates Chili/El High School; Alex Bolis, Webster Schroeder High School; Trey Faber, Webster Youth Hockey.
The Colin Montesano Unsung Hero Award was presented to George Bolender, Webster Youth Hockey. The Joshua Opladen Goaltender Award was given to Dominc Andrade, Penfield High School.
Tyler Putnam’s dream was to play for his High School hockey team, the Irondequoit Eagles, Junior Hockey, Division I Hockey and ultimately professional hockey. He achieved the first two parts of that dream with high school and junior hockey.
Unfortunately, Putnam’s dreams ended on July 7, 2011 when he died of an illness called Meningococcemia (Meningitis B).
The Tyler Putnam Foundation for formed shortly following his death. Of the money raised by the foundation, 100 percent of it goes to families in need of assistance for hockey, events for families and educating people about the dangers of meningitis and the vaccines available.
Guest speaker for the event was Francois Methot, Director of the Rochester Jr. Americans hockey organization. A third-round pick (54th player taken overall) in the 1996 National Hockey League Draft, Methot played six seasons in the American Hockey League, including five with the Rochester Americans.
Methot moved on to Europe where he played in the German DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga) for 11 seasons before retiring as an active player.
Methot, along with Tyler’s father, Lindsay Putnam, and Tyler’s sister, Shannon, presented the awards to the recipients.
Prints are available through [email protected]
