New Hampshire senior Steve Saviano has been named the winner of the 2004 Walter Brown Award as announced by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston on Friday. Saviano, a Hobey Baker Award finalist and Hockey East Player of the Year, was picked from among 14 finalists.
Saviano is the fifth UNH player –- and second in as many years –- to win the Walter Brown Award, which is presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. Senior goaltender Mike Ayers, one of this year’s other 13 finalists, was the 2003 award recipient. Previous Wildcat honorees were Ty Conklin (2001), Ralph Cox (1979) and Bob Miller (1977).
Saviano has recorded 27 goals and 21 assists for 48 points in 40 games in his senior campaign. He leads the Wildcats in points, goals, power-play goals (nine) and plus/minus (+14). On the national leaderboard, Saviano is No. 2 in goals per game (0.68), third in goals, seventh in points, 10th in points per game (1.20) and 11th in power-play goals.
His other 2004 honors include the Len Ceglarski Award (Hockey East’s recognition of superior sportsmanship), Hockey East Player of the Month for January and the UNH Friends of Hockey Fan Favorite Award.
Saviano and his UNH teammates return to action March 27 in a Northeast
Regional semifinal game vs. Michigan. Game time at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester (N.H.) is 3:30 p.m.
