The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston announced Thursday that University of New England senior forward Brady Fleurent is the winner of the 19th Joe Concannon Award, presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England at the Division-II/III level.
Fleurent also won the Concannon Award as a sophomore in 2017.
The 2018 winner was UMass Boston forward Colin Larkin.
The Joe Concannon Award was established in 2001 shortly after the passing of the longtime writer for the Boston Globe, who had a great passion for the game of college hockey while always advocating strongly for amateur athletics.
Fleurent, a native of Biddeford, Maine, finished this season leading the Nor’easters in scoring with 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points.
During Fleurent’s four years with the Nor’easters, he played in 110 games and posted 60 goals and 121 assists for 181 points. He leaves UNE as the program’s all-time leading scorer.
“This is great news for Brady and our program,” said UNE coach Kevin Swallow in a statement. “It is going to be hard to imagine a team here without a Fleurent on the roster, especially one who has been so productive and important to building the program over the past four seasons.”
Fleurent was also recognized as the Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year and a first team all-star by the league coaches. It is also the second time that Fleurent has earned the Conference Player of the Year Award.
“Brady just has evolved so much as a player and a leader here at UNE,” added Swallow. “He has helped to set a high bar for our team in playing the game the right way. I am sure he will have success playing at the next level, based on his work ethic, skill and dedication.”
Fleurent topped five other finalists in the final balloting – UNE junior forward Ryan Bloom, Plymouth State senior forward Michael Covach, UMass Boston junior forward Nolan Redler, Babson sophomore forward Nick Rosa and Wesleyan junior goaltender Tim Sestak.
“This is the second time we have had a repeat winner in the history of the award, but the first time in non-consecutive years. This showcases the high level of performance for Brady, both in this season and over his career,” said Gridiron Club Hockey Awards Committee chairman Tim Costello in a statement. “There were many worthy candidates among the strong list of semifinalists, but Brady rose to the top of this talented group and is, again, a very deserving winner.
“The 2018-19 season continued the recent trend of great parity and high level of play across D-II/III hockey in New England. For Brady, this season culminated a wonderful four-year career, capped off by his second CCC Player of the Year recognition and now his second Joe Concannon Award. He joins Jamie Murray from Babson as the only two-time winners of the award.”
The Joe Concannon Award will be presented at the New England College Hockey Writers’ Dinner on Wednesday, April 17 at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus, Mass.
