Gridiron Club of Greater Boston president Dave O’Brien announced today that senior forward Greg Osborne of Colby College is this year’s winner of the seventh annual Joe Concannon Award, which recognizes New England’s best American-born Division II-III hockey player.
Osborne, a resident of Stoughton, Mass., finished his career at Colby with an outstanding season in which he scored 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points in just 25 games. During his career, Osborne posted a balanced total of 48 goals and 57 assists for 105 points in 97 games for the White Mules. Osborne was named a first team NESCAC League all-star for the season and was named the league’s Player of the Year. He was team captain and led Colby to the NESCAC conference semi-finals where they lost a one-goal decision to eventual champion Middlebury.
Colby head coach Jim Tortorella said, “Ozzy is a special kid with impeccable character, which is why we recruited him to come to Colby. As our captain he had a great skill for keeping our team, including our seniors, in the present and focused on the task at hand. He isn’t flamboyant and doesn’t necessarily score the highlight reel type goals, but he is very efficient. He always seemed to be in the right place this year and didn’t miss his opportunities.”
Tortorella added, “Ozzy has persevered throughout his career and has had the personality to deal with the bumps in the road that come along. Looking back, his freshman numbers were OK but he has steadily improved to the point where he had such a big year for us this season. I am very proud of his accomplishments and glad to see him being recognized.”
A strong field of finalist candidates vied with Greg Osborne for the Concannon Award. They included senior forward Kyle McCullough from UMass-Dartmouth; senior defenseman Brett Smith from St. Anselm College; senior forward Ryan Moore from Fitchburg State; and senior forward Will Bennett from Wesleyan University.
McCullough, from Danvers, Mass., led the Corsairs to a second consecutive ECAC Northeast title and top seeding in the East for the NCAA tournament. McCullough finished the season with 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points. For his career, Kyle had 64 goals and 90 assists for 154 points during 111 games at UMass-Dartmouth.
Smith, from Hudson, Mass., was a true impact player at both ends of the ice for the St. Anselm Hawks. His six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in just 22 games were among the team leaders in scoring, while he logged huge amounts of ice time each game. The senior defenseman finishes his career at St. A’s with 35 goals and 69 assists for 104 points in 108 games.
Moore, from Randolph, Mass., was the ECAC Northeast Player of the Year in leading his Fitchburg State Falcons to the conference semifinals. He finished as the conference’s leading scorer with 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points in just 27 games played.
Bennett, from Boston, Mass., was co-captain at Wesleyan and helped lead the Cardinals to their best season ever. His team-leading 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points helped propel Wesleyan to their first ever home-ice berth in the conference playoffs.
“This year has been maybe been the best season of competition at the Division II and III levels in New England college hockey,” said committee chairman Tim Costello. “All of our nominees had terrific seasons and our five finalists truly distinguished themselves from a very talented field. Greg has demonstrated great skills on the ice, leadership and sportsmanship and truly fits nicely among the group of illustrious past winners of the Concannon Award.”
The 2007 Joe Concannon Award will be presented to the winner at the New England Hockey Writers’ Dinner on Wednesday, April 11. Last year’s winner was Adam Dann from Bowdoin College and Burlington, Vt.
Joe Concannon Award Winners
2001: Keith Aucoin, Norwich
2002: Michael Carosi, Bowdoin
2003: Nick Stauder, Salem State
2004: Jim Panczykowski, Wesleyan; Mike O’Sullivan, Curry
2005: Brian Doherty, Curry; Joseph Ori, Trinity
2006: Adam Dann, Bowdoin
2007: Greg Osborne, Colby
