SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men’s hockey team announced its team award winners for the 2021-22 season.
Senior captain Josh Kosack earned the Charlie N. Morrison Award, given annually to a player who participates in extracurricular activities while demonstrating academic interest and achievement. In his final year, Kosack raised over $45,000 for C.O.C.O.A House through his Kozi’s Kids initiative to help construct a Kozi’s Kids lounge in C.O.C.O.A House’s second location. The senior was named the 27th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award for his efforts. The ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year also put together his best season on the ice, netting eight goals and six assists while playing all 37 games.
The Scott Richardson Unsung Hero Memorial Award was given to seniors Ryan Sidorski and Fletcher Fineman. Sidorski skated in 35 games this season and added three assists from the blue line, while logging over 20 minutes of game play a night. Fineman saw his senior campaign unexpectedly cut short, but stayed involved with the program, finding other ways to assist the team.
Senior Brandon Estes was the recipient of the Coaches Award. The assistant captain led the team in scoring, recording 29 points off of seven goals and 22 assists from the blue line. The team’s ironman played in every situation for the Dutchmen and also led the team in shots (93) and blocks (44). Estes finished his career with 121 consecutive games played, ranking him sixth all-time in Union’s history. Upon the conclusion of the season, Estes signed with the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League, where he scored three assists in 10 games.
Junior Connor Murphy was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. The junior netminder started all 37 games for the Dutchmen, posting a 14-18-3 record with three shutouts. Murphy set Union’s single-season save record with 1,060 saves on the way to a .919 save percentage and a 2.66 goals against average. The junior made a career-high 51 saves against Maine, placing him in ninth in Union’s single-game saves record. Murphy finished the season ranking third in the country in saves.
Defenseman Cullen Ferguson was named the Rookie of the Year. Ferguson skated in all 37 games for the Dutchmen and posted almost 20 minutes a night in the second half of the season. The blue liner scored 10 assists in his rookie campaign and added 56 shots, while blocking 35 shots.
Sophomore Liam Robertson was named this year’s Most Improved Player. After compiling three goals and five assists for eight points in 27 games as a first-year, the sophomore was fifth in scoring this season, posting 13 goals with six assists, including five game-winners. Robertson finished the year with eight power-play goals, which ranks eighth in the country, and ninth in single season power-play goals in Union’s Division I history. Robertson’s five game-winning goals placed him seventh in the country.
For the third year in a row, junior computer engineering major Merek Pipes was named the recipient of the Thomas Van Arden Dukehart Academic Award, an award presented to the player with the highest grade point average.
(Union College Men’s Hockey Photo)
