Spartan Hockey Hosts Annual Awards Program
4/18/2019 10:48:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State hockey program put a cap on the 2018-19 season with its annual awards program on Thursday (April 18) night at Eagle Eye Golf Club.
For the second straight year, Taro Hirose was voted the Ron Mason Team MVP and Outstanding Offensive Player. Hirose, who was a First Team All-American, Hobey Baker Award Finalist and the Big Ten Player of the Year, tied for the national lead in points this season with 50. He was also the Big Ten scoring champion with 34 points in 24 league games.
Senior Brennan Sanford and redshirt junior Jeard Rosburg also took home two awards apiece. Sanford was named the winner of the Amo Bessone Award for the second straight year, which recognizes athletic and academic achievement and community participation. Sanford also earned the Blue Line Club President's Award for having the highest GPA (3.7) among the senior class.
Rosburg, who posted a career-high 16 points and had a team-leading 74 blocked shots, was named the Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player. He was also the recipient of the Spartan Fitness Award.
Dennis Cesana, who ranked fourth on the team and led all Spartan defensemen with 24 points, and was voted to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, was named the Spartans' Outstanding Rookie.
Sophomore Austin Kamer was chosen as the team's Most Improved Player, while fellow classmate Tommy Apap earned the Spartan Shield Award as a selfless teammate.
Junior Anthony Scarsella was the winner of the Goofus Award as team humorist for the second time in his career.
Cody Milan had his second straight 20-point season and was voted winner of the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award.
Junior captain Sam Saliba was the recipient of the Dr. Steve Swistak Memorial Scholarship for the second consecutive year. The award embodies Steve's qualities of hard work, dedication, teamwork and grit. Steve Swistak played for MSU from 2000-04 and later went on to graduate from medical school before losing his battle with esophageal cancer in 2015.
Spartan hockey executive administrative assistant Kris Smith was honored with the Distinguished Spartan Award. Smith will retire this spring after working for 49 years at Michigan State, most of which was with the Spartan hockey program as she has worked for every coach since Amo Bessone.
Ron Mason Team MVP – Taro Hirose
Outstanding Offensive Player – Taro Hirose
Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player – Jerad Rosburg
Steve Swistak Memorial Scholarship – Sam Saliba
Outstanding Rookie – Dennis Cesana
Most Improved Player – Austin Kamer
Amo Bessone Award – Brennan Sanford
Goofus Award – Anthony Scarsella
Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior – Cody Milan
Spartan Fitness Award – Jerad Rosburg
Blue Line Club President's Award – Brennan Sanford
Spartan Shield Award – Tommy Apap
Distinguished Spartan Award – Kris Smith
For the second straight year, Taro Hirose was voted the Ron Mason Team MVP and Outstanding Offensive Player. Hirose, who was a First Team All-American, Hobey Baker Award Finalist and the Big Ten Player of the Year, tied for the national lead in points this season with 50. He was also the Big Ten scoring champion with 34 points in 24 league games.
Senior Brennan Sanford and redshirt junior Jeard Rosburg also took home two awards apiece. Sanford was named the winner of the Amo Bessone Award for the second straight year, which recognizes athletic and academic achievement and community participation. Sanford also earned the Blue Line Club President's Award for having the highest GPA (3.7) among the senior class.
Rosburg, who posted a career-high 16 points and had a team-leading 74 blocked shots, was named the Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player. He was also the recipient of the Spartan Fitness Award.
Dennis Cesana, who ranked fourth on the team and led all Spartan defensemen with 24 points, and was voted to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, was named the Spartans' Outstanding Rookie.
Sophomore Austin Kamer was chosen as the team's Most Improved Player, while fellow classmate Tommy Apap earned the Spartan Shield Award as a selfless teammate.
Junior Anthony Scarsella was the winner of the Goofus Award as team humorist for the second time in his career.
Cody Milan had his second straight 20-point season and was voted winner of the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award.
Junior captain Sam Saliba was the recipient of the Dr. Steve Swistak Memorial Scholarship for the second consecutive year. The award embodies Steve's qualities of hard work, dedication, teamwork and grit. Steve Swistak played for MSU from 2000-04 and later went on to graduate from medical school before losing his battle with esophageal cancer in 2015.
Spartan hockey executive administrative assistant Kris Smith was honored with the Distinguished Spartan Award. Smith will retire this spring after working for 49 years at Michigan State, most of which was with the Spartan hockey program as she has worked for every coach since Amo Bessone.
Ron Mason Team MVP – Taro Hirose
Outstanding Offensive Player – Taro Hirose
Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player – Jerad Rosburg
Steve Swistak Memorial Scholarship – Sam Saliba
Outstanding Rookie – Dennis Cesana
Most Improved Player – Austin Kamer
Amo Bessone Award – Brennan Sanford
Goofus Award – Anthony Scarsella
Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior – Cody Milan
Spartan Fitness Award – Jerad Rosburg
Blue Line Club President's Award – Brennan Sanford
Spartan Shield Award – Tommy Apap
Distinguished Spartan Award – Kris Smith
Players Mentioned
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