Men's Ice Hockey | April 15, 2018

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan hockey team hosted its annual postseason banquet, with Dawson DiPietro and Hugh McGing sharing the Rob Hodge Most Valuable Player award to highlight the night's festivities.

DiPietro led the team in scoring with 35 points on 13 goals and 22 assists, also earning the Vic Vanderberg Top Scorer award. McGing was one of WMU's most difficult players to play against on the season, racking up a career-high 30 points on nine goals and 21 assists. DiPietro took home the most hardware out of any Bronco, also adding the Ed Edwards Most Improved Player award to his collection after scoring just one point in one game last season.

Austin Rueschhoff was named the Suzanne Klop Rookie of the Year recipient after scoring 17 points on 10 goals and seven assists in his debut season. Seniors Paul Stoykewych and Aidan Muir shared the Catherine Lawson Sportsmanship award for setting examples on and off the ice with positive attitudes and play on the ice.

It was to no one's surprise when sophomore Kale Bennett was called up to receive the Peter Ellis Academic Player of the Year award. Bennett, a biomedical sciences major, has a team-high 3.97 GPA. Bennett played in a career-high 23 games this season and recorded two assists. Senior Jade McMullen also earned the Bill Saunders +/- award.

Junior Corey Schueneman earned both the Neil Smith Most Valuable Defenseman award and the Blue Line Club Best Conditioned Athlete award. Schueneman played in 34 games on the season and was WMU's top scoring blue-liner with a career-high 26 points on five goals and 21 assists.

Finally, seniors Scott Moldenhauer and Neal Goff shared the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association "Grinder" award.