2013-14 Highlights | Infographic | Photo Gallery

BOSTON – The Northeastern men's ice hockey celebrated the 2013-14 season on Thursday night at the team's annual banquet at Matthews Arena. The Huskies honored the members of their senior class, and also handed out several end of season awards.
 
Redshirt junior goaltender Clay Witt headlined the event, capturing Most Valuable Player and the Northeastern DogHouse's 'Fan Favorite' awards. The Brandon, Fla. native backstopped the Huskies in 32 games this season, going 17-12-3, which is fourth on the NU single-season record list. Witt also set single-season program records for goals against average (2.37) and save percentage (.932). During the Hockey East quarterfinals at New Hampshire, Witt become the eighth goaltender to make at least 1000 saves in a season. His 1043 stops this year were third on the NU record list.
 
Witt was a finalist for the inaugural Mike Richter Award, given to the nation's most outstanding goaltender, was a Hockey East Second Team All-Star and won the Three Stars Award. In addition, he was a five-time Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week, the 'Stop It' Goaltender of the Month in January and was named to the New England Hockey Writers All-Star Team.
 
Freshman Mike Szmatula (Commerce Township, Mich.) collected Rookie of the Year accolades, which was presented by director of strength and conditioning Dan Boothby. Szmatula was second on the team with 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) this year, the most for an NU rookie since Mike Taylor (11-31-42) in 1990-91 and three points shy of tying the team record for points in a season by a freshman. He was also a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection.
 
Szmatula, a two-time Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week honoree, was second in the nation and first in Hockey East in rookie scoring with 1.05 points per game this season. His 39 points were tied for ninth in the league in scoring, while his 24 assists were tied for 10th. Szmatula led a Northeastern freshman class that totaled 125 points (42 goals, 83 assists) this season, the third highest in the nation among rookie classes. The Huskies were 15-6-3 when he recorded a point, 8-3-2 when he scored a goal, and 11-3-2 when he picked up an assist.
 
Sophomore forward Kevin Roy won the Leading Scorer Award for the Huskies for the second straight season, posting 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists, the most points for a Husky since Jason Guerriero (17-31-48) in 2004-05. For his efforts, he was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star and to the New England Hockey Writers All-Star Team. Roy became the 18th player in program history to lead the team in scoring in consecutive seasons, and the first to do it in his first two seasons with the team since Les Chaisson in 1970-71 and 1971-72.
 
On Nov. 22, Roy became the 56th player in program history to record at least 50 points in their first two seasons in college hockey, and first since Wade MacLeod and Tyler McNeely in 2008-09. The Lac-Beauport, Quebec native was named a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award earlier this year, was a two-time Warrior Hockey Player of the Week honoree, the Warrior Hockey Player of the Month in October and the National Player of the Month.
 
The Don H McKenney Coach's Award, which was presented by former head coach Don McKenney and given to the team's most dedicated player, was presented to Josh Manson and Braden Pimm. Manson, the captain of the Huskies in 2013-14, played in all but four of Northeastern's 37 games this season, helping hold opponents to 2.78 goals per game, NU's lowest mark since the 2010-11 season.
 
Manson played in all game situations throughout the year, and was named the Old Time Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman by Hockey East, becoming the first Husky since 2009 to take home the accolade. He was also named to a Hockey East Second Team All-Star. Manson chipped in on the offensive side of the ice in 2013-14, as well, posting three goals and seven assists, which was third on the team among defensemen. His +12 rating, meanwhile, was a team-high and his 35 blocked shots were fifth.
 
Pimm had a breakout season in his final year on Huntington Ave., finishing third on the team with 37 points (20 goals and 17 assists), becoming the first Husky since Wade MacLeod to record 20 goals in a season. He was tied for third in Hockey East in goals per game and power play goals, as well as tied for 11th in points per game. He finished his collegiate career with points (four goals, six assists) in seven of his last eight games.
 
Eleven of Pimm's 20 goals this year came in special teams situations (eight power play, three shorthanded), which was tied for the fifth most in the nation. His three shorthanded goals were tied for fourth in the country and the most for a Husky since Mike McLaughlin in 2010-11. His 11 total special teams goals, meanwhile, were the most for a Northeastern skater since J.F. Aube had 13 power play goals in 1993-94.
 
Pimm also collected the Huskies Radio Award for Most Exciting Player, which was presented by Thursday's masters of ceremony and the voices of Northeastern Hockey, Rob Rudnick and Bill Doherty.
 
Junior Dax Lauwers was named the NU Hockey Veterans' Unsung Hero Award winner in 2014. Lauwers played in all 37 games this season for the Huskies, posting four assists. Lauwers played a pivotal role with the Northeastern penalty killing unit, and blocked a team-high 74 shots, which was tied for 21st in the nation.
 
The Managers' Award for Most Improved Player went to redshirt junior Torin Snydeman. In his first season with the Huskies, the Groton, Mass. native had seven goals and five assists.

The Friends of NU Hockey Fernie Flaman award for dedication to Northeastern hockey was given to Associate Athletic Director, Emeritus Jack Grinold. Grinold first joined the university in 1962 and is widely regarded as the dean of New England sports information directors. Over his 50 years on Huntington Avenue, he developed a wide-ranging, innovative athletic communications office. Often called "the innovator of innovators," he shaped the careers of countless sports information professionals—including many who benefitted from an internship program he established within the department.
 
In 1985, Grinold was elected to the Northeastern University Varsity Club Hall of Fame, becoming the first non-athlete or coach to receive the honor. And, in 1998, as part of Northeastern's centennial celebration, he was chosen as one of the 100 individuals responsible for the institution's growth and success.
 
Joe O'Sullivan was named the Justin Harriman 'DogHouse Super Fan' award winner.
 
At the conclusion of the banquet, head coach Jim Madigan announced that Lauwers and Adam Reid will serve as captains for the 2014-15 season, while Snydeman and Witt will be their assistant captains. 

Northeastern finished 19-14-4 in 2013-14, marking the fourth largest turnaround in the NCAA this season and tied for the fourth largest in team history from last year's 9-21-4 squad.