May 24, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The 2015-16 Penn State men's hockey team celebrated its historic season by announcing the individual awards presented by the program. Graduating senior Luke Juha (Mississauga, Ontario) headlined the awards as the team's MVP and top defenseman.
Penn State doled out team-voted awards honoring the most valuable player, freshman of the year, top defenseman and the players' player. In addition, the Nittany Lions also recognized the team's leading scorer, top student-athletes and preseason top athlete.
Juha scooped up the most valuable player and top defenseman honors after his record-breaking campaign. Juha, an alternate captain during his final season in Hockey Valley, posted a 24-point season, top amongst defensemen. Moreover, Juha racked up the best plus-minus rating, finishing with a plus-16, a new school record.
Juha's goals (8), assists (16), points (24) and rating (+16) either matched or set new single-season records for defensemen. Juha leaves Penn State as the program's all-time leader for scoring by a defenseman wtih 15 goals, 45 assists and 60 points.
The 2016 Senior CLASS Award winner, David Glen (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta) was named the team's Players' Player. Glen, the 2015-16 captain, capped his four-year career with a 23-point season on six goals and a career-high 17 assists, while becoming the first Nittany Lion to earn the Senior CLASS Award on April 8.
Andrew Sturtz (Buffalo, N.Y.) was voted Freshman of the Year after his terrific debut campaign. Sturtz racked up 18 goals to lead the Nittany Lion offense, while adding nine assists for 27 points and a plus-11 rating, which was third on the team. Sturtz was clutch, producing three game-winning goals and providing the first goal a team-leading five times.
Eamon McAdam (Perkasie, Pa.) garnered the Top Student-Athlete honor this season for his excellence in the classroom. McAdam, who signed a three-year contract with the New York Islanders, was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten pick, while earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2016. McAdam won a single-season school-record 13 games this past season.
For a fourth straight season, Connor Varley (Lansdale, Pa.) entered training camp as the most fit Nittany Lion, earning the Preseason Top Athlete laurel. The award is determined by strength & conditioning coach Cam Davidson.
Junior forward David Goodwin (Des Peres, Mo.) earned the team's Leading Scorer honor for his career-best 38-point campaign in 2015-16. Goodwin bagged 11 goals and produced 27 assists for his 38-point season. Along the way, Goodwin scored a team-high six power-play goals. Goodwin enters his senior season as the program's all-time assists (57) and points leader (90).
The Nittany Lions went 21-13-4 in 2015-16 setting numerous records for victories and scoring, while finishing in a program-best third place in the Big Ten.
2015-16 PENN STATE MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Luke Juha
Top Defenseman: Luke Juha
Freshman of the Year: Andrew Sturtz
Players' Player: David Glen
Leading Scorer: David Goodwin
Top Preseason Athlete: Connor Varley
Top Student-Athlete: Eamon McAdam