Oswego’s Paul Furman Wins USA Hockey’s Prestigious William Thayer Tutt Award

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey hosted its 2008 Annual Congress Wednesday, June 4, through Saturday, June 7, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs. The four-day event provided USA Hockey’s various committees, affiliates, districts and employees the opportunity to gather for a series of forums, workshops and award ceremonies intended to improve the organization and honor those who have contributed to its great success.

USA Hockey 2008 Annual Congress Award Winners

June 4 . Night of Tribute Award Dinner Honorees

Adult Ironman of the Year,
presented by Labatt Blue
Tom Hendrix (Columbia, Md.)
Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year
Jack Connolly (Duluth, Minn./Sioux Falls)
Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year,
presented by ITECH Hockey
Drew Palmisano (Ann Arbor, Mich./Omaha)
College Player of the Year,
presented by Mission Hockey
Nathan Gerbe (Oxford, Mich./Boston College)
Disabled Athlete of the Year
Max Maksimyadis (Bedford Corners, N.Y.)

June 7 . President’s Awards Dinner Honorees

Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year,
presented by Qwest
Caitlin Cahow (Branford, Conn.)
Excellence in Safety Award
Dr. Michael Stuart (Rochester, Minn.)
Chet Stewart Award
Robert Klein (Atlanta, Ga.)
Bob Johnson Award,
presented by Nike Bauer
Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.)
Walter Yaciuk Award,
presented by Easton
Gary Gregus (Shakopee, Minn.)
Adult Member of the Year,
presented by Labatt Blue
Rich Wasilewski (Clearwater, Fla.)
Distinguished Achievement Award
Willie O’Ree (San Diego, Calif.)
Wm Thayer Tutt Award
Paul Furman, Sr. (Oswego, N.Y.)

USA Hockey honored its service award recipients and presented the player of the year awards on Wednesday, June 4, at an awards dinner tabbed “A Night of Tribute.”

The award recipients include Adult Ironman of the Year Tom Hendrix (Columbia, Md.), Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Jack Connolly (Duluth, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede/USHL), Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year Drew Palmisano (Ann Arbor, Mich./Omaha Lancers/USHL), College Player of the Year Nathan Gerbe (Oxford, Mich./Boston College/HEA) and Disabled Athlete of the Year Max Maksimyadis (Bedford Corners, N.Y.).

The closing event of USA Hockey’s 2008 Annual Congress — the President’s Awards Dinner — will take place on Saturday, June 7. Among the honorees will be Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Caitlin Cahow (Branford, Conn.), Walter Yaciuk Award winner Gary Gregus (Shakopee, Minn.), Distinguished Achievement Award honoree Willie O’Ree (San Diego, Calif.) and William Thayer Tutt Award winner Paul Furman, Sr. (Oswego, N.Y.).

Also to be honored on Saturday are Excellence in Safety Award recipient Dr. Michael Stuart (Rochester, Minn.), Chet Stewart Award winner Robert Klein (Atlanta, Ga.), Bob Johnson Award honoree Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.) and Adult Member of the Year Rich Wasilewski (Clearwater, Fla.).

Norm Jones, long-time play-by-play announcer for the Colorado Avalanche, served as the master of ceremonies.

Award-winner bios follow:

. Tom Hendrix, Adult Ironman of the Year, has been involved with hockey for many years, both as a player and rink owner. After his four-year playing career at Bowling Green State University, he remained active in the hockey community and eventually built the Gardens Ice House. His ice arena is home to more than 60 adult hockey teams and has hosted various adult hockey tournaments over the years.

. Jack Connolly completed an outstanding rookie season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League and is the recipient of the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award. Connolly, the USHL’s 2007-08 Rookie of the Year, tied for the league lead with 72 points (26-46) and was named to the All-USHL First Team and USHL All-Rookie Team.

. Drew Palmisano is the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year following a championship season with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. Palmisano led the league with 32 regular-season wins to help his team capture the Anderson Cup as USHL regular-season champions. He also completed a record-setting postseason, compiling an unprecedented four shutouts during the USHL playoffs to help his team to the 2008 Clark Cup. Palmisano was named MVP of the playoffs.

. Nathan Gerbe is USA Hockey’s College Player of the Year. The Boston College junior led the nation with 68 points (35-33) en route to leading the Eagles to the national championship. After a stellar postseason performance, which included five goals and three assists during the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, Gerbe was named Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player.

. Max Maksimyadis, the goaltender of the New York Raptors special hockey team, is USA Hockey’s Disabled Athlete of the Year. While playing without a stick, Maksimyadis has wowed observers with his outstanding skill. However, it is his sportsmanship and team-first attitude that has made him one of the most respected players in the special hockey community.

. Caitlin Cahow is the Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year. The Harvard University senior captained the Crimson to one of its best seasons to date. She tallied 37 points (15-22) in helping Harvard to a 32-2-0 record and a NCAA Women’s Frozen Four berth. For her efforts, she was named to the RBK Hockey/AHCA All-America First Team. Internationally, Cahow was named one of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s three best players at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship. She tallied two power-play goals and three assists to help Team USA capture its second-ever gold medal at the event.

. Dr. Michael Stuart is the recipient of USA Hockey’s Excellence in Safety Award. Stuart, USA Hockey’s chief medical officer, is at the forefront of preventing hockey related injuries. His research and subsequent article on head and facial injuries suffered in junior hockey earned him the American Sports Journal of Medicine Hughston Award in 2003. He has served as a team physician for many U.S. national teams and currently works with the Minnesota Ice Hawks of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.

. Robert Klein is the recipient of the Chet Stewart Award for his contributions to the USA Hockey Officiating Education Program. His officiating career dates back nearly 40 years and he has served in various capacities within the Officiating Education Program, including several stints as a referee-in-chief. Klein has spent much of his time developing referees of all ages and is now the Georgia state supervisor of officials.

. Natalie Darwitz is the recipient of the Bob Johnson Award for excellence in international competition. Serving as team captain, Darwitz led the U.S. Women’s National Team to its second gold medal at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship. Her 10 points (6-4) led the World Championship, while she earned the directorate award as the tournament’s top forward.

. Rich Wasilewski is the Adult Member of the Year for his positive contributions to USA Hockey’s adult program. Wasilewski’s involvement in adult hockey began as a rink owner, as he hosted many USA Hockey Adult Classics and also held USA Hockey’s Adult National Championships for nine consecutive years. He has been a member of the USA Hockey Adult Council for the last 10 years and has helped oversee tremendous growth in adult hockey throughout the country.

. Gary Gregus is the recipient of the Walter Yaciuk Award for his contributions to USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program. Gregus’ involvement in coaching education dates back to 1975. He has lectured at over 100 USA Hockey coaching clinics from Level 1 through Level 4. He has also co-authored two USA Hockey coaching manuals and assisted in developing Minnesota Hockey’s Skills Program focusing on player development.

. Legendary Willie O’Ree will be honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award. O’Ree, considered the “Jackie Robinson of hockey,” recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier in the National Hockey League. He currently serves as the director of youth development for the NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force, a non-profit program for minority youth that encourages them to learn and play hockey.

. Paul Furman is the recipient of the Wm Thayer Tutt Award. The honor, USA Hockey’s most prestigious award, recognizes a volunteer who has displayed a selfless dedication to the enhancement of ice hockey at the grassroots level. For nearly 40 years, Furman has been an extremely active volunteer within the New York State Amateur Hockey Association. After 24 years as the NYSAHA state tournament director, every state champion in New York now receives the Paul Furman Trophy.

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