During the final week of the season at Tabor Academy, Hockey Unlimited presented awards to four of its players.
Joy Mello of Mattapoisett and Alicia Wohlgemuth of Halifax received the Most Improved Player awards. Tim Dyer, Managing Director & Head Coach of Hockey Unlimited, stated while presenting the awards, “Joy and Alicia each have shown that hard work and dedication can pay handsome dividends.” Dyer went on to say “Both Joy’s and Alicia’s skating and related hockey skills have improved almost every session with us. We are pleased to have both of them on our roster.”
The Hutchinson Family Sportsmanship Award was presented to Ben DeMoranville of Rochester. This award is named after the longtime Southeastern Massachusetts hockey family for “outstanding contributions to the program relative to sportsmanship and preserving the true spirit and ‘love of the game’ of hockey.” Coach Jim Hutchinson stated “I am very pleased to see Ben recognized by Hockey Unlimited in this way. The sportsmanship and friendly spirit he brings to our organization clearly contributes to the culture we strive for with our young people – on and off the ice.” Coach Steve Healy further commented, “Ben’s ability to play goalie as well as skate out proved very helpful to the organization to ensure we had two talented, reliable goalies for each session, which does so much to enhance the enjoyment factor for all involved.”
Lastly, Hockey Unlimited presented its first ever Comeback Player of the Year Award this past season to Juan Neal of Fairhaven. Juan, as a young man, was an active participant in the program. He then took a 30 year hiatus from hockey, after which he returned to the organization this year as an active coach. So, Dyer went on to say, “It is with great pleasure that we recognize Juan’s comeback achievement relative to Hockey Unlimited this season.”
Hockey Unlimited is committed to teaching the fundamentals of ice hockey to individuals – male and female – of just about all ages. The organization just completed its 51st season. All sessions are held at the Travis Roy Rink inside Tabor Academy’s Fish Center for Health & Athletics.