2013 HockomockSports Hockey Awards

Player of the Year – Brian Brooks, Canton
HockomockSports.com has awarded Canton junior forward Brian Brooks the 2012-2013 Ice Hockey Player of the Year. This is the first year that the award has been presented to the top player in the Hockomock League by HockomockSports.com
“He is such a gifted and talented hockey player,” said Canton head coach Brian Shuman. “His speed allows him to separate from defenders, and he is also quick and elusive in tight spaces. The puck just seems to stay on his stick. Bottom line, he is a threat to score every time that he touches the ice.”

Brooks was the leading scorer on the Davenport division champions. He scored 20 goals and racked up 24 assists for the Hockomock’s best offensive team. Brooks had a pair of goals in the playoff win against North Attleboro.

“We are honored to announce Brian as the inaugural HockomockSports.com Hockey Player of the Year,” said Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Brian was the offensive spark for the best offensive team in the league. His combination of speed, stickhandling, strength, and tenacity made him one of the most prolific scorers in the Hock. When Brooks caught fire midway through the season, Canton went from a solid team to the best team in the league. He may not be the biggest player but the combination of strength and desire to score goals made him a nonstop threat to the opposition.”

Canton finished the regular season a perfect 10-0 in the Hockomock League and ended the season 16-4-2 overall. The Bulldogs lost only two games since the calendar flipped to 2013 and were the top seed in Division 2 South before being beaten in the semifinal by Oliver Ames.

“I viewed Brooksy as the complete player,” said Franklin head coach Chris Spillane, whose team faced Brooks three times this season. “He exhibits great speed, he finishes his scoring opportunities in all situations, he has great vision of the ice, and was unselfish with the puck.”

Spillane continued, “The best compliment that I could give him is that Brian makes the players he skates with better hockey players due to his hockey skills and hockey sense. We attempted to take Brooks’ space away when he had puck possession and not let him stretch his legs in open ice. Unfortunately, we did not have great success with our game plan, which shows what type of player Brooks can be.”

Brooks, only a junior, will have another season to attack Hockomock defensemen and, according to his coach, the playoff defeat will create even more desire to succeed for one of the league’s biggest competitors.

Shuman added, “He has both playmaking ability and a knack for scoring goals, which explains all the points he piled up this year. Above all, Brian is a fierce competitor, and that trait has brought him to the next level. It doesn’t matter if it’s practice or a game, Brian wants the beat the guy he is going up against.”

Honorable Mention: Brendan Murphy, Mansfield

---

HockomockSports.com First Team
Brian Brooks, Forward, Canton
Zack Dragun, Forward, Attleboro
Brendan Murphy, Forward, Mansfield
Brad White, Forward, Milford
Sean Young, Forward, North Attleboro
Jimmy Tierney, Goalie, Oliver Ames

HockomockSports.com Second Team
Connor Ladino, Forward, Taunton
Pat Ward, Forward, Canton
Kyle Powers, Defenseman, Franklin
Kurt Leavitt, Defenseman, Canton
Ryan Burns, Defenseman, North Attleboro
PJ Sheehan, Goalie, Stoughton

HockomockSports.com Third Team
Jared Balzarini, Forward, Milford
Justin Davidner, Forward, Oliver Ames
Kevin Flynn, Forward, Mansfield
Jack Riley, Forward, King Philip
Troy Donahue, Forward, Franklin
Rich Shipman, Goalie, Mansfield

---

Goalie of the Year – Jimmy Tierney, Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames sophomore Jimmy Tierney has been named the 2013 HockomockSports.com Goalie of the Year. Tierney led the Tigers to the Division 2 South finals, including a win over top seed and league champion Canton. It was the second time this season that Tierney shutout the Hockomock’s top scoring team. It is hard to believe that the league will have two more years to try and find a way past him.

Honorable Mention: PJ Sheehan, Stoughton

---

Underclassman of the Year – Sean Young, North Attleboro
North Attleboro sophomore forward Sean Young has been named the 2013 HockomockSports.com Ice Hockey Underclassman of the Year. Young’s scoring was one of the primary reasons that North started the season 10-2 and picked up the program’s first ever win over Mansfield. Young combined with linemate and fellow sophomore Marshall Blackman to form a prolific partnership.

Honorable Mention: Jimmy Tierney, Oliver Ames

---

Coach of the Year – Brian Shuman, Canton
Canton head coach Brian Shuman has been named the HockomockSports.com Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Shuman led the Bulldogs to a perfect 10-0 league record and Davenport Division title. Canton earned the top seed in Division 2 South and compiled a 16-4-2 overall record (only two of those losses came after January 1st).

Honorable Mention: Steve Snizek, North Attleboro. Mark Homer, King Philip