USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Arnold Wins Hammer Award

Published on April 27, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa-Waterloo Black Hawks forward Derek Arnold has been honored by the United States Hockey League with the USHL's annual Curt Hammer Award, the league announced Tuesday.

Contributions for the betterment of the community and organization, as well as performance in games, are among the criteria to be considered for the honor. The late Curt Hammer was president of the Des Moines Buccaneers in the 1980's before losing a battle with cancer in 1987. The award presented in his honor has been given to a player "who distinguishes himself as gentlemanly, both on and off the ice, while demonstrating outstanding performance, skills, pride, and determination" since the 1988-1989 season.

"Derek was the ideal candidate for this award," said Waterloo Black Hawks Head Coach P.K. O'Handley. "He was a leader on our team from the beginning of camp, he did whatever we asked him to do on the ice, and he went out of his way to represent the Black Hawks well. Among the players I've been proud to coach, Derek is one of the most mature and outgoing young men I have been around."

Arnold, a Foxboro, Massachusetts native committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, spent two seasons in Waterloo. During 2009-2010, he founded "Arnie's Army," an organization to help Black Hawks fans channel their enthusiasm for the team into fundraising for the Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County. Inspired by Daniel Briere of the Philadelphia Flyers and his "Briere Bunch," Arnie's Army wristbands and hardhats were sold throughout the season at Black Hawks games, with all proceeds benefitting the Boys and Girls Club.

"Arnie's Army is more than just a young man raising money for the Boys and Girls Club," said the organization's local Executive Director Chuck Rowe. "Through this program, Derek was able to build a bridge between two organizations. It sometimes takes years for two separate organizations to work hand-in-hand, but a 19-year-old was able to do it in just a matter of months. It's simply amazing."

On the ice, in addition to the attributes mentioned in the award description, Arnold also displayed exceptional perseverance. A 20-goal scorer as a rookie in 2008-2009, Arnold didn't notch his first goal of the 2009-2010 season until January 10th. Instead he contributed 19 assists in the Black Hawks' first 29 contests, while being called on to fill holes in Waterloo's depleted defensive corps during several games. After the Hawks' assistant captain hit the net for the first time, goals started to pile up; he finished the year with 20 in the final 31 matchups. Arnold was the first Black Hawks to score 20 goals in back-to-back seasons since Joe Pavelski in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.

Conferred by a vote of USHL head coaches, Arnold joins former Hawk and current Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Eaton as the only players from the organization to win the honor. Eaton was the Curt Hammer Award winner in 1996-1997.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2010


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