Robert Kenny, a three-year letterwinner for the Northeastern men's hockey program from 1989-1992, was tragically killed in an automobile accident early Wednesday morning (July 21, 2010) on Interstate 75 in Weston, Fla.

The Vienna, Va. native joined the Huskies as a walk-on for the 1989-90 season. The first-year skater engaged in 32 contests and contributed nine points (2-7-9).

Kenny's second season with Northeastern yielded the Manager's Award 'Most Improved Player' after providing 17 points (6-11-17) in 29 games at the center position.

Kenny's shining moment in his second season came at the Auld Lang Syne Tournament (now called the Ledyard National Bank Classic in which the Huskies won this past season). The junior scored two goals and two assists yet his production was punctuated through his defensive prowess. Kenny was normally charged with the task of covering the opposing team's top scorer.

In his final season with the Huskies (1991-92), head coach Ben Smith named Kenny an assistant captain. Kenny upheld his role as a leader and finished with a team-best 19 goals, 33 points in all (19-14-33), and was named the team's Most Valuable Player at season's end. Kenny's leadership aided the Huskies to a championship title at the Ottawa Invitational along with a 4-3 victory at Matthews Arena over No. 1-ranked Maine on Jan. 24, 1992.

Following his journey on Huntington Ave., Kenny went on to lead a successful pro career throughout the AHL, IHL, ECHL and BISL.

From 1992-95, Kenny skated with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL) and totaled 75 points (41-34-75) in three seasons. He then went on to play for the Los Angeles Ice Dogs (IHL) from 1995-98, racking up 84 points (40-44-84) and a pair of playoff appearances. During the 1998-99 season, Kenny logged 42 points (22-20-42) with the Miami Matadors (ECHL) before closing out the same season with the Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) with a scoring line of 9-5-14. Kenny's final stint was with the London Knights of the British Ice Hockey Superleague (BISL) in 1999-00. Kenny closed out his professional career with his third 40-point season (17-23-40).

Current Huskies assistant coach, Sebastien Laplante (1989-93), played with Kenny in his first three seasons at Northeastern.

“Rob (Kenny) was one of the best teammate I have ever had”, Laplante said. “He was as good a teammate as you could find, on and off the ice. He became a leader on our team with a very short amount of time.”

For the last several years, Kenny ran a very successful hockey program in southern Florida and was an avid supporter of the Northeastern hockey program. Kenny was constantly reaching out to the NU staff in regards to recommending talent he knew of in the area.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Janelle, and their three children: Ryan, Sean and Ella. All three children were under the age of eight-years old.

Kenny was 41 years old.

Please stay posted to www.gonu.com/mhockey for further details on funeral arrangements. The funeral will take place in Florida.