OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Alex Willkinson of the Army West Point hockey team was one of the top-10 men’s ice hockey student-athletes who excel on and off the ice selected as a finalist 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. 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.” – Head Coach Brian Riley
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.
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.
