Wolverines Announce Annual Dekers Club Awards
5/6/2019 12:49:00 PM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey program has announced its annual Dekers Blue Line Club year-end awards (Monday, May 6). Â
Sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes earned two of the eight player awards presented, garnering the Doc Losh Trophy for the team's scoring leader and the Vic Heyliger Award for the team's most valuable defenseman for the second year in a row. Hughes becomes the 11th player to win the Heyliger Award at least two times and first since Zach Werenski (2015-16).
Junior Will Lockwood returned from an injury-shortened sophomore season to earn the Hal Downes Award for the second time in his career (2017). Lockwood becomes the 11th player to win the season's most valuable player award at least twice and first since JT Compher (2014 and 2016).
Junior Luke Martin earned the Carl Isaacson Trophy, awarded to the team's best student-athlete. Freshman Garrett Van Wyhe claimed the Alton D. Simms Trophy as the most improved player, while junior forward Jake Slaker was presented the Howard Colby Award for the player who exhibits the best sportsmanship.
Freshman defenseman Nick Blankenburg was the second blue-liner in as many years to earn the Dekers Club Award for the top rookie, while junior defenseman Griffin Luce rounded out the awards as this year's Joseph E. Barss recipient for the player who best exemplifies being a true team player.
The late Wally Grant was the first recipient of the Red Berenson Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented annually to an alumnus of the program who best exemplifies the Michigan hockey tradition by making an outstanding contribution to hockey and society.
A new award was presented for the first time, the Al Renfrew Award, which will be presented annually to a long-time Michigan hockey fan who has shown continued support of the Wolverines and best exemplifies what it means to be a fan of Michigan hockey. The award was given to the late Maggie St. Clair. She was a long-time member of the Dekers Club, Michigan hockey and the Michigan band family. Her commitment and unrelenting passion for Michigan hockey will be greatly missed.
