USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Hawks Hand Out Honors

April 6, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa-Craig Smith was unanimously voted the 2008-2009 Waterloo Black Hawks Most Valuable Player by his teammates and coaches. His award and several others were announced during the Black Hawks Awards Banquet Sunday at the Five Sullivan Brothers Center in Waterloo.

Smith, a third-year forward and team captain, led the Hawks with 76 points (28 goals and 48 assists) in 54 games. It was the highest tally for a Black Hawk in one season since Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake recorded 100 points in 1993-1994. The Wisconsin native and future Badger finished tied for second in USHL scoring with Mike Cichy of the Indiana Ice. During the year, Smith was a USHL All-Star and Captain of the U.S. Junior Select Team, which won a gold medal in Alberta at the World Junior A Challenge in November. During his three-year career, Smith played in 157 regular season games, charting 49 goals and 68 assists.

Here are the other award-winners selected by their teammates and coaches:

Rookie of the Year (given to the most outstanding player in his first season of junior hockey): J.T. Brown

Hardest Worker (selected based on tireless effort in games and practice): Matt Johnson

Most Improved Player (who has made the most significant personal progress during the season): Parker Milner

Unsung Hero (chosen because of a dedication to put his team and teammates before personal goals or accolades): Patrick Wey and Scott Pavelski (tie)

The Black Hawk Booster Club also announced the winner of its annual Player of the Year Award, based on positive interaction with fans, teammates, and the community at large. Dan Sova was the winner. Sova was also selected as the Slumberland Furniture Fan's Choice Player of the Year Award winner.

Other awards from the evening included:

Black Hawks Community Service Award (given to the player with the most community service hours): Ben Miller

Karen Wente Distinguished Service Award (honoring service to the Black Hawks organization, and named for Black Hawks Housing Coordinator Karen Wente, who passed away unexpectedly in March): Craig Laue, public address announcer and the Voice of Young Arena

Roth Jewelers Front Office Player of the Year (the player selected by the Front Office staff to best exemplify the ideals of being a Black Hawk): Keegan Meuer

Also on Sunday, the United State Hockey League announced that it had chosen Craig Smith as a member of the All-USHL First Team.

Check out the Waterloo Black Hawks Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2009


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