TBRW Awards

[Hillel Hoffmann]

[Q]Jordan 04 Wrote:
Peter Natyshak Award, Career Improvement.
I'll go Iggy, although I don't think Knoepfli is too far behind.[/q]
I agree that Knoepfli showed some improvement over the course of his career, but with all due respect, that's bonkers. If I'm not mistaken, Knoepfli had almost as many points in his freshman year (about 15 -- quite high for a rook) as Iggulden had in his freshman, sophomore, and junior years combined! I repeat: This award should be renamed the Iggy.

Edit: I looked it up. Here's another way to look at it. Knoepfli had nearly three times as many points in the 30+ games of his freshman year as Iggulden had in his freshman and sophomore years, when Iggy scored a combined SIX points over 45+ games.

[Trotsky]

Hillel,

Don't worry.  Iggy won the Natyshak on January 14th.  Since then, he's lapped himself.  I agree, this is the single easiest subjective award in TBRW history.

This year's awards are, frankly, straightforward.  I did want to see whether people who saw 3x or 4x as many games as I during the year thought differently, but in the main their nominations are a confirmation that the games I saw were not outliers.

One more day for last call.

[Will]

Do you have any inclination to change the name of an award (i.e., the Natyshak becomes the Iggulden) if a better namesake comes along?  Or will the awards always be named what they are now?

[jtwcornell91]

[Q]Will Wrote:

 Do you have any inclination to change the name of an award (i.e., the Natyshak becomes the Iggulden) if a better namesake comes along?  Or will the awards always be named what they are now?[/q]

Maybe Greg can add a new Mike Iggulden award for most short-handed goals.  :-D

[dbilmes]

Peter Natyshak Award, Career Improvement.
Iggy

Randy MacFarlane Award, Transcendent Beauty and Skating Prowess.
Jeremy Downs

Dave Shippel Award, Scrappiness and Effort.
Topher Scott

Terry Gage Award, Determination in a Supporting Role.
Jeremy Downs

Mike Schafer Award, Leadership and Passion. This award needs no explanation.
Mike Knoepfeli

Pierre Belanger Award, Most Loathed Referee. Nor does this one.
any of the Florida refs

John Carter Award, Most Respected Opponent.
Dov Grumet-Morris

Kevan Melrose Award, Least Respected Opponent.
Noah Welch

Doug Dadswell Award, Most Valuable Freshman.
Topher Scott

Joe Nieuwendyk Award, Most Valuable Player.
David McKee

[Trotsky]

[Q]Will Wrote:
Do you have any inclination to change the name of an award (i.e., the Natyshak becomes the Iggulden) if a better namesake comes along?  Or will the awards always be named what they are now?[/q]

I have no inclination to change the names.  The awards honor players from a period for which I have a personal affection (when I was a student, plus the first ECAC championship I witnessed).  Since they are explicitly "one fan's opinion," (albeit with invited heckling from the general community) I feel comfortable linking them with the people who I directly blame for my addiction.

However, this does not preclude the creation of new awards.

(Pinter pause)

That was foreshadowing.

[Will]

[Q]Trotsky Wrote:

However, this does not preclude the creation of new awards.

(Pinter pause)

That was foreshadowing.[/q]

Sounds good to me.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Peter Natyshak Award, Career Improvement. This award is open to seniors or in the very rare case when no senior has demonstrated above average career improvement, juniors. The award measures how well the player has improved since starting at Cornell.

Iggy.  (Duh)  

Randy MacFarlane Award, Transcendent Beauty and Skating Prowess. Title says it all.  Anne's favorite award.

Chris Abbott

Dave Shippel Award, Scrappiness and Effort. This award, which is associated with the longest-running typo in TBRW? history ("scappiness"), generally goes to a player who plays bigger than his size or "better than his talent."

Scott

Terry Gage Award, Determination in a Supporting Role. This award generally goes to an athlete whose contributions do not show up in the box score. It often goes to an unexpected player who comes out of the pack to really contribute a particular skill as a role player.

Pegoraro

Mike Schafer Award, Leadership and Passion. This award needs no explanation.

Knoepfli

Pierre Belanger Award, Most Loathed Referee. Nor does this one.

D. Murphy.  Though the CCHA asshole who reffed the game at Mariucci Sunday made a real run at this one

John Carter Award, Most Respected Opponent. This award generally goes to an opposing player who has both ferociously skewered Cornell and who we would take in a heartbeat for one of our own. It is based on his performance against us only in games this year.

Kevin Du.  Definitely a Schafer-esque player

Kevan Melrose Award, Least Respected Opponent. This award goes to the guys who, when you scream "Sucks!" you really mean it. The bad and the ugly. The goon, the cheap shot artist, the whiner, the showboat. The asshole.

LaTulippe

Doug Dadswell Award, Most Valuable Freshman. Define it however you want. Open only to freshman, not transfers.

Pokulok

Joe Nieuwendyk Award, Most Valuable Player. Again, define it however you want, as long as you consider only this year's performance.

McKee

[RichH]

 Peter Natyshak Award, Career Improvement.
Mike Iggulden.   I was one of the few fans of his early in his career, and his wrist injury he suffered his freshman year hampered his stats.  But I can't pick against the masses.  Any other year, this is Varteressian's.

Randy MacFarlane Award, Transcendent Beauty and Skating Prowess.
tie.  Mike Iggulden/Sasha Pokulok.  I have two videos of individual goals from 2005 saved on my hard drive.  Both are Mike Iggulden goals.  Both define beauty.  It will now be referred to as "The Move."  However, I can't let this opportunity go by without giving Pokulok some recognition.  His moves made opponents look silly.

Dave Shippel Award, Scrappiness and Effort.
Topher Scott.  An early favorite to win this for 4 years.

Terry Gage Award, Determination in a Supporting Role.
Daniel Pegoraro.

Mike Schafer Award, Leadership and Passion. This award needs no explanation.
Mike Knoepfli.  His performance at Appleton finally made me a believer in this team.

Pierre Belanger Award, Most Loathed Referee. Nor does this one.
*Vacant*

John Carter Award, Most Respected Opponent.
Kevin Du.  Hell, he's even got the Lynah Faithful screaming his name...and without a "sucks!"  His workman-like goal sank us at Bright, and he's valuable on faceoffs.  If he wore a brighter shade of Red, his name would be echoed often around Lynah.  Hard to argue against Sifers, too.  That guy is a great leader, and was one of the best captains in the league.

Kevan Melrose Award, Least Respected Opponent.
Noah Welch.  Can't think of many people who rode so much media hype with such little actual skill.  The Harvard SID sure did a fine job pumping up his reputation...somehow.

Doug Dadswell Award, Most Valuable Freshman.
Doug Krantz.  The defense was banged up, and Krantz got his chance for ice time...and thrived.  That was very valuable.  He even wound up turning up the pressure from the blueline.  We're thinner in numbers on defense than in previous years, and to have a "fill-in" step up like he did...my early vote for Pokulok gets changed to Krantz.

Joe Nieuwendyk Award, Most Valuable Player.
Matt Moulson

[Trotsky]

The envelope please:  http://www.tbrw.info/tbrwAwards/tbrwAwardsIndex.html


2005 TBRW? Awards
Duane Moeser Award, Leading Point Scorer.
Matt Moulson. 22-20-42, winning the award in back-to-back seasons, and becoming the first 20 goal scorer for Cornell in 9 seasons.

Chris Norton Award, Leading Scorer, Defensemen.
Charlie Cook.  9-13-22, also picking up the award as both a junior and senior.

Brian Hayward Award, Leading Goaltender.
David McKee. 27-5-3, 1.24, .947, leading the NCAA in both GAA and Sv%, and gaining admittance to the Hobey Hat Trick as a Sophomore.

Peter Natyshak Award, Career Improvement. This award is open to seniors or in the very rare case when no senior has demonstrated above average career improvement, juniors. The award measures how well the player has improved since starting at Cornell.
Mike Iggulden.  The new prototype for this award, Iggulden was a marginal, nearly forgotten, player his first two years, only becoming established with the departure of the massive and talented class of '03.  As a senior, he became -- arguably -- the third-most important player on the team, adding an entirely new dimension with his devastating penalty killing (and short handed goal scoring) talents.  The greatest testament to Iggulden's improvement is that his departure leaves the Big Red with a gaping hole and no apparent heir.  Even among a cohort outstanding in their career improvement -- Cook, Pegoraro, and Varteressian especially -- Iggulden was exceptional.

Randy MacFarlane Award, Transcendent Beauty and Skating Prowess. Title says it all.
Jeremy Downs.  Though not a beautiful or effortless skater, Downs was touted as one of the fastest skaters on the ice during the NCAAs, leading a team that overall has improved significantly in a traditionally weak area.

Dave Shippel Award, Scrappiness and Effort. This award, which is associated with the longest-running typo in TBRW? history ("scappiness"), generally goes to a player who plays bigger than his size or "better than his talent."
Topher Scott.  Listed at 5' 6", and perhaps nearing that when in skates, Scott did more with less than any player since his distant forbearer, Shaun Hannah.  Brought onto a hulking, physical team to replace the diminutive but highly talented Ryan Vesce, Scott shocked fans and opponents with his fearless play, at times checking -- effectively -- players with six inches and 40 pounds on him.  His quarterfinal series-winning overtime goal in the final game at Lynah was his finest moment, punctuated by a hop, skip, and jump reminiscent of Geoff Lopatka.  Our new favorite player.

Terry Gage Award, Determination in a Supporting Role. This award generally goes to an athlete whose contributions do not show up in the box score. It often goes to an unexpected player who comes out of the pack to really contribute a particular skill as a role player.
Paul Varteressian.  Like Iggulden, he struggled to find his role for three seasons.  Like Iggulden, he found it as a senior, and made a massive contribution to the squad.  One of the best checking forwards, with the thankless task of shadowing the opponent's best line each night, Varteressian crowned his career with the game-tying goal in the ECAC championship game.

Mike Schafer Award, Leadership and Passion. This award needs no explanation.
Mike Knoepfli.  The captain, Knoepfli led a senior class which Mike Schafer continually called out for its outstanding leadership.  A steady player throughout his career, Knoepfli was easy to miss due to his low profile role as a defensive forward, but was greatly responsible for the team's three NCAA quarterfinal appearances on his watch.

Pierre Belanger Award, Most Loathed Referee. Nor does this one.
John Murphy.  We may need a Lifetime Achievement Award, as Murphy proves he hasn't improved in 8 years (having won the award in 1997 as well).

John Carter Award, Most Respected Opponent. This award generally goes to an opposing player who has both ferociously skewered Cornell and who we would take in a heartbeat for one of our own. It is based on his performance against us only in games this year.
Dov Grumet-Morris, Harvard.  Hyphen was fun to heckle, but the guy should be given his due now that he's gone.  He seemingly always saved his best games for Cornell, beating them several times.  He was never greater than in the 2002 ECAC title game, when he shut the Red down for five periods en route to a double-overtime victory.  We're glad to see him go.

Kevan Melrose Award, Least Respected Opponent. This award goes to the guys who, when you scream "Sucks!" you really mean it. The bad and the ugly. The goon, the cheap shot artist, the whiner, the showboat. The asshole.
Noah Welch, Harvard.  What a hack!  The most overrated player in the ECAC -- perhaps in all college hockey -- in the last decade, Welch was a mediocre defenseman with a penchant for cheap shots behind the play  who continually failed to impress, especially in big games against the Red.  His ultimate moment: being faked out of his jock on the game-trying goal at Albany this past season.

Doug Dadswell Award, Most Valuable Freshman. Define it however you want. Open only to freshman, not transfers.
Doug Krantz.  In a class of impressive freshman, Krantz was the most steady, and he fit into the Schafer System instantly, showing poise beyond his years.  Add a heavy shot and perhaps the biggest goal of the season -- the momentum shifting first Cornell mark of the NCAA Regional Semi -- and Krantz noses out teammates Scott and Ray Sawada for MVF.

Joe Nieuwendyk Award, Most Valuable Player. Again, define it however you want, as long as you consider only this year's performance.
David McKee. The only competitor was Moulson, who had an incredible season and keyed the resurgent offense.  However, McKee earned the honor, accumulating an incredible ten shut outs, and becoming the second Cornell Hobey Hat Trick netminder in the past three seasons.

- - - -

In addition, there will be a special one-time-only Award, currently under construction.

[Avash]

[Q]Trotsky Wrote:

 
Pierre Belanger Award, Most Loathed Referee. Nor does this one.
John Murphy.  We may need a Lifetime Achievement Award, as Murphy proves he hasn't improved in 8 years (having won the award in 1997 as well).

[/q]

I went to the Syracuse/Manitoba AHL game tonight. John Murphy was the linesman, and believe it or not, called ICING on Syracuse while they were on the penalty kill! The 6,573 in attendance really let him have it.