BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont men's hockey annual team awards were given to six different Catamounts with senior Stefanos Lekkas earning team MVP honors for the fourth consecutive season.
 
The John C. Cunningham Most Valuable Player Award, named for Dr. John C. Cunningham, a 1931 Vermont graduate and supporter of Catamount hockey, was given to Lekkas for the fourth straight season. The Elburn, Illinois native started 32 of 34 games as a senior and finished the year with a .916 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average. Lekkas finished his collegiate career as Hockey East's all-time saves leader and fifth in the NCAA record book with 3,913 career stops.  
 
In addition to team MVP honors, Lekkas also picked up the team's Player of the Year Three Stars Award, given to the player with the most Hockey East three stars of the game awards from last season. In 2019-20, Lekkas earned eight Hockey East three stars of the game honors.
 
The George C. Buzzell Rookie of the Year Award, named for the longtime supporter and friend of Vermont hockey, was presented to Andrew Lucas. The Alexandria, Virginia native led the team in scoring with 15 points. The freshman blueliner finished the season with a plus-4 rating while playing in all 34 games.
 
The Jim Cross Coaches' Award was presented to seniors Matt Alvaro and Derek Lodermeier. Alvaro skated in all 34 games in 2019-20 and posted 11 points. The Toronto, Ontario native recorded his 50th and 51st career points in Vermont's 4-2 win over Northeastern on Senior Weekend. He finished the season fourth in Hockey East with a 59.1% (94-for-159) success rate at the faceoff circle.
 
Lodermeier captained the team and posted 11 points in 34 games this season. He scored the game-winning goal in Vermont's 4-2 win over Northeastern and added another goal the next night in the Senior Weekend sweep of the Huskies. The Brooklyn Center, Minnesota native finished the season 20th in Hockey East with a 53.3% (345-for-647) success rate at the faceoff circle.

Ace Cowans earned the team's Frank 'Mac' McIntosh Most Improved Player Award, named after the longtime supporter of Catamount hockey. The Beverly, Massachusetts native posted 13 points in 2019-20 to double his career output. The junior skated in all 34 games and led the team with seven goals. He notably earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors after tallying both game-winning goals in the 2019 Catamount Cup.
 
The Mike Gilligan Award, given annually to the player who distinguishes himself through leadership on and off the ice and through service to the community, was presented to junior goalie Matt Beck. The Westport, Connecticut native spearheads Vermont's community service efforts, notably leading the Light the Night and Movember fundraisers. For these efforts, Beck was named a nominee for the 2020 Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey's finest citizen.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program