The Officers and Governors of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) have announced its major award winners for 2010. All honorees will be presented their awards at the 2010 AHCA Convention in Naples, FL, April 29-May 2, 2010. They are:

THE JOHN MACINNES AWARD: Established by the AHCA in 1982 to honor former Michigan Tech coach, John MacInnes, this award recognizes those people who have shown a great concern for amateur hockey and youth programs. The recipients have had high winning percentages, as well as outstanding graduating percentages among their former players. The winners of this award have helped young men grow not only as hockey players, but more importantly, as men.

2010 Recipient: John Dunham, Trinity

John Dunham served as head coach of the Trinity College men’s ice hockey team for 33 seasons, the longest tenure of any Trinity head coach in any sport. Dunham was the guiding force behind the Trinity College ice hockey program for 37 years, beginning his coaching career with Trinity’s club hockey team in 1970 and helping it attain varsity status in 1974. His teams developed into a dominant force in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North/South in the 1980’s, including the 1986-87 squad, which posted a 24-1 record en route to the second of four conference titles.

In all, Dunham compiled a 441-306-34 record with 21 post-season appearances, NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2005, four ECAC North/South Championship titles, and a New England Small College Athletic Conference Championship crown in 2003. In 2004-05, Trinity qualified for its second NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and posted the program’s first NCAA victory, 4-0, at Geneseo State, to advance to the team’s only NCAA Final Four.

“My involvement with the Trinity club hockey team truly began as a labor of love,” said Dunham upon his retirement in 2008. “I had no idea the program would evolve to where it is today. I am proud of the many outstanding young men who have skated for us, and my hat is off to them for what they have accomplished on the ice despite the adversity of practicing and playing in off-campus facilities until this year."

Dunham’s 441 career-coaching victories placed him fourth among all active Division III coaches, fifth in Division III history, 11th among all active coaches in all divisions, and 20th among all coaches in all divisions in wins. He is second all-time in wins in Division III at the same school. Dunham was named as the 2001, 2003, and 2005 NESCAC Coach of the Year and as a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division III National Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2005.

“Coach Dunham not only achieved a tremendous level of success on the ice, but played the pivotal role in making the exemplary Trinity ice hockey programs what they are today,” said Trinity Athletic Director Richard Hazelton. “He was officially a part-time coach but he gave more than a full-time effort to our teams for 37 years.”

TERRY FLANAGAN AWARD: Named in honor of the former UNH player and Bowling Green Assistant, this award honors an assistant coach’s career body of work.

2010 Recipient: Andy Slaggert, Notre Dame

Andy Slaggert is in his 17th season as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame, serving under three head coaches - Ric Schafer, Dave Poulin and Jeff Jackson - during his tenure. A 1989 graduate of the University, he serves as a valuable link between the past and present of the Irish hockey program. An enthusiastic and tireless assistant coach, he was promoted to Associate Coach in the summer of 2008 and has long been recognized as an outstanding recruiter in the college ranks.

Said head coach Jeff Jackson, “At Notre Dame, Slaggert works with the team’s penalty-killing unit on a group and individual basis. He also coordinates our highly successful recruiting effort, including on-and-off campus recruiting and the observation and evaluation of prospective student-athletes. During his first 16 seasons at Notre Dame, Slaggert has been involved in the recruiting of 23 players who were selected in the National Hockey League Draft.”

The Irish have also had 21 players from the U.S. National Team Development Program matriculate to Notre Dame, with 10 playing for the U.S. Junior National Team in the World Junior Championships. Slaggert has also been highly involved with coaching on the national level since 1997. During the summer of 2004, he reached his highest level, when he was named head coach of the U.S. Under-17 select team that went on to finish second at the Five Nations Tournament in Halle, Germany. The previous year (2003), the veteran assistant got his first taste of coaching with USA Hockey at the international level when he served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Under-18 Select team that captured the gold medal at the Under-18 World Cup held in the Czech Republic.

While at Notre Dame, Slaggert was the primary moving force behind the Notre Dame hockey program’s PowerPlay Run/Walk to benefit the fight against cancer. The first three events - held on the Sunday after the first Notre Dame home football game - drew increasing numbers to the point where the program began playing its intra-squad scrimmage to raise funds for the fight against cancer.

Slaggert received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame in 1989. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in physical education from Ohio University in 1991.A right wing for the Irish from 1986-89, Slaggert totaled seven goals and six assists over 55 games during his three-year Notre Dame career. Slaggert’s first venture into coaching came in 1989 with the Amerisport International European Hockey Tour and returned to Notre Dame in 1992. Slaggert and his wife Tara were married in the summer of 1996. The couple resides in South Bend with their three sons.

THE JOHN MARIUCCI AWARD: John Mariucci, the former coach of the University of Minnesota, was not only an outstanding college coach, but also a driving force behind the growth of hockey in the United States. In 1987, the AHCA created this award to honor a secondary school association coach who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and enthusiasm of the "GODFATHER OF U.S. HOCKEY," John Mariucci.

2010 Recipient: John Gardner, Avon Old Farms (CT)

John Gardner has spent his entire life at a secondary school environment, as his dad was a teacher at the Salisbury School in Salisbury, CT, where Coach Gardner graduated. Upon his graduation of Salisbury, he attended Wesleyan University, class of 1974, where he played college hockey under Dave “Duke” Snyder.

After graduating from Wesleyan, he began coaching and teaching at the Avon Old Farms School in Avon, CT. He has been at Avon Old Farms School for the past 35 years, where he has taught Math, been a dorm proctor, Provost, and Assistant Headmaster.

Coach Gardner has coached over 200 young men who have gone on to play college hockey and five of those young men have played in the National Hockey League. With former Avon goaltender Jon Quick being named a 2010 Olympian, John has now coached two Olympians, the other being Brian Letch.

Said one of his nominators, Bruce Marshall, “His 30+ years at one school, teaching young men both on and off the ice and preparing them for college, makes John an ideal recipient of the Mariucci Award. I have been fortunate to have several of John’s players that attended the University of Connecticut and found them to be prepared academically and athletically. Many of our colleagues throughout New England that have had players from Coach Gardner’s teams would echo those comments as well.”

Gardner’s teams have won seven New England Prep Division I Championships and produced numerous college and professional athletes. As evidence of his consistent success, Gardner’s overall record (through 1/23) at Avon is 623 wins, 196 losses and 31 ties.

THE JIM FULLERTON AWARD: Named in honor of the former Brown University hockey coach and AHCA spiritual leader, this award recognizes an individual who loves the purity of our sport. Whether a coach, administrator, trainer, official, journalist or simply a fan, the recipient exemplifies Jim Fullerton, who gave as much as he received and never stopped caring about the direction in which our game was heading.

2010 Recipient: John Gilbert, Minnesota Media

John Gilbert grew up in Duluth, MN and though he never played the game of hockey while growing up, he was always at the local parks and fell in love with the game. Gilbert started covering hockey as a writer at the University of Minnesota-Duluth as a student when UMD was just making the transition from DIII to DI. He soon transferred to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and started covering the Gophers and high school hockey. After college he started writing for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune companies.

Gilbert was writing articles on the Gophers, high school hockey and the new professional hockey team in St. Paul, the Minnesota Fighting Saints. His articles caught the attention of the Minnesota North Stars, who soon had Gilbert covering them as well. Said one observer, “In essence he became the hockey department at the Tribune!”

While covering the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, Gilbert became close friends with Herb Brooks and penned the book, “Herb Brooks: The Inside Story of a Hockey Mastermind” He also wrote a book about the Gophers returning to national prominence after they won back to back National titles early in Don Lucia’s tenure with the Gophers.

Gilbert continues to write for various magazines and radio stations across the state of Minnesota. For many years he would write 13 stories a week for 52 weeks a year. And he still found time to be on the US Hockey Hall of Fame committee, which he has been on until this past year. He has also served on the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Committee, the Hobey Baker Committee and the Patty Kazmaier Committee. He also has coached baseball, hockey and soccer for Roseville, MN in various summer, spring and fall leagues.

Currently Gilbert writes for WCHA.com and he still plays amateur baseball at the age of 66 years. Gilbert’s respect in Minnesota hockey circles is such that in 2003, he was elected into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the only non high school coach ever to be elected.

THE JOHN “SNOOKS” KELLEY FOUNDERS AWARD: Named after the famed Boston College coach, this award honors those people in the coaching profession who have contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the United States.

2010 Recipient: Peter Van Buskirk, Holy Cross

Peter Van Buskirk is in his 10th season in as the head coach of the Crusader women’s ice hockey team. He has accumulated a 124-94-14 record over nine seasons. Last season, Van Buskirk led the Crusaders to an ECAC East regular season title, an ECAC Open Championship, a school record 24 wins (24-2-1) and was named the ECAC East Coach of the Year. Holy Cross’ 117 single-season goals scored ranks number one all-time at Holy Cross and its 37 singleseason goals allowed are the fewest all-time and its seven shutouts are second all-time. Van Buskirk coached the ECAC East Rookie of the Year, had three student-athletes make the ECAC East All-Conference team and had five student-athletes named to the ECAC East All-Academic team.

Said John Burke, Rensselaer women’s head coach and former men’s assistant coach, “Peter Van Buskirk would be a worthy recipient to any of the awards listed below. Peter has given a lot to the game of hockey, both at the men’s and women’s levels, while being a great ambassador. His professionalism and class is something that we should all strive to emulate.”

Van Buskirk’s success didn’t occur overnight, as during the 2002-03 season he helped the Crusaders compile a 17-7-1 overall record and win the ECAC Championship title in only their fourth season as a varsity team. He has been affiliated with the Holy Cross ice hockey program for over 25 years. From 1979- 88 he served as the men’s head coach before returning to the bench as an assistant from 1991-96 and head coach again for the 1996-97 season. Van Buskirk is Holy Cross’ second most successful men’s coach, with a record of 167-146-8 throughout 10 seasons.

During his tenure as head coach of the men’s team, Van Buskirk guided the Crusaders to eight ECAC East playoff appearances and also earned College Coach of the Year honors in 1983. He re-assumed the men’s head coaching duties for the 1996-97 season, guiding his squad to a 14-13-0 mark and earning a fourth consecutive trip to the ECAC East Tournament.

Prior to coming to Holy Cross, Van Buskirk served as the head coach at Hudson High School from 1973-79. During his tenure, he guided the Hawks to five Central Massachusetts titles, three district crowns and a Division I State Championship in 1978. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at St. John’s High School in 1972.

A 1965 graduate and two-sport athlete at the University of New Hampshire, Van Buskirk served as a lieutenant in the Army Infantry from 1966-68. He also holds his Master’s Degree in Education from Boston State College. Van Buskirk is a member of both the Hudson High School and University of New Hampshire Athletic Hall of Fame.

THE JOE BURKE AWARD: Presented annually to the person who has given outstanding contribution, support, and dedication to women’s ice hockey.” It is named in honor of a girls’ and women’s hockey “superfan,” Joe Burke.

2010 Recipient: Kelly Dyer Hayes, USA Hockey

Kathleen Ridder, and her late husband, Bob, are this year’s co-recipients of the Joe Burke Award. Said former Minnesota women’s head coach Laura Halldorson, “The Ridders embody the same passion, energy, and commitment to the sport of women’s hockey that Joe Burke made famous over the years. These two individuals were extremely instrumental in starting Division I women’s hockey in the Midwest. Their tireless work, amazing financial contributions, and ability to build support led to the University of Minnesota’s decision to add the sport in 1995—at a time when the future was unknown. Looking back, this risk certainly paid off.”

Laura added the following tributes:

Kelly Dyer was an outstanding goaltender from her days on the boys high school team at Acton-Boxboro (MA) High School to Northeastern University to the U.S. National Team program. She also played briefly in men’s minor professional hockey. Despite being a role model as a player, her lasting contributions to the sport come from her post-playing days as girls and women’s hockey began to grow.

“In the early years of girls’ hockey, it seems every organization called on Kelly to serve on one committee or another,” said AHCA Executive Director Joe Bertagna. “Whether it was USA Hockey, the AHCA, or Northeastern University, Kelly was the ‘go-to’ person when so many fledgling programs and events were taking shape. Her combination of personality and commitment served her well and served girls’ and women’s hockey well.”

Said former Northeastern University head coach and current Minnesota-Duluth assistant Laura Schuler, “Since Kelly’s retirement from playing with the U.S. National Program, she continues to stay involved with hockey through her sales work with manufacturing companies and by making sure that women’s collegiate programs get what they need to be successful. There are never any short ends when Kelly is involved. Kelly is a true ambassador to our sport and knowing Joe Burke very well (he lives around the corner from me and is a close personal friend of mine), I know that he too would agree with me.”

Kelly, who is now a sales rep with Warrior Hockey, lives in Marblehead, MA, with her husband, Chris, and daughter, Elizabeth.

THE WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY FOUNDERS AWARD (First year of award) This award honors a member of the hockey community or college coaching profession who has contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of women’s ice hockey in the United States through their enthusiasm, passion and selflessness.

2010 Recipient: Helen Bert, Providence College

Helen Bert could be known as the matriarch of collegiate women’s ice hockey. In 1971, she was appointed as the first women in the Providence College athletic department as the college went from an all male school to co-ed. She was hired as the Coordinator of Women’s Athletics, was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director, and then became Associate Athletic Director under Lou Lamoriello.

Helen helped establish 12 Division 1 varsity sports at Providence College. She opened up many doors for female athletes especially in the sport of women’s ice hockey. For her crusade for our sport and others, she was inducted into the Providence College Hall Of Fame, North Providence Sports Hall Of Fame and the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

She was instrumental in starting the women’s ice hockey program at Providence College, the formation of the first women’s college hockey league in the ECAC and fighting for the equality of our sport at the very beginning and beyond.

In nominating Bert for this honor, current Providence College head coach Bob Deraney said, “It is safe to say that what we see today and the opportunities offered to women’s ice hockey players with four leagues, an NCAA Championship, various world championships and the Olympics are a direct result of those pioneers back in the 1970’s. Helen was one of those pioneers, if not the main person leading that crusade. Without her tireless and relentless effort to advance our sport, where it would be today? Because of the wonderful women’s spirit and countless contributions to our sport, I feel there is no other more deserving recipient for the first ever Women’s Ice Hockey Founders Award than Helen Bert.”

The Joe Burke Award and Women’s Founders Award will be presented at the AHCA Celebration of Women’s Hockey in Naples, FL, on Friday evening, April 30. All other awards will be presented at the AHCA Celebration of Men’s Hockey in Naples, FL, on Saturday evening, May 1.

Click here to view all past winners of these awards