MSU hockey concludes season with annual awards program

The MSU hockey team officially concluded its 2016-17 season Saturday as the team hosted its annual awards program at the Kellogg Center.

Senior forward Joe Cox received a team-high four awards and joins Shawn Horcoff and Jeff Lerg as the only MSU players to receive four team awards in the same season.

The 6-foot-0 senior was named the winner of the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior, Spartan Shield, Amo Bessone and Blue Line Club President’s Awards.

Cox, who has a 3.72 grade-point average, will graduate next month with a degree in accounting and is also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Cox also was nominated for his second-straight Amo Bessone Award, which honors athletic and academic achievement and community participation. 

The Chelsea, Mich. native never missed a game in his four seasons and logged 69 career points in 143 games, Upon receiving the award, Cox passed the achievement to Chris Knudson. 

With a career-best 31 points, 12 goals and 19 assists, sophomore forward Mason Appleton, who led the Spartans in all three categories, was named the team’s MVP and Outstanding Offensive Player.

Junior defenseman Carson Gatt was the third Spartan to receive multiple awards as the 6-foot-1, South Lyon, Mich. native was voted the Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Improved Player.

Taro Hirose, Brennan Sanford and Anthony Scarsella each finished Saturday night with one award.

After finishing second on the team in points with 24 and assists with 18, Hirose was named the team’s Outstanding Rookie, while Sanford earned the Spartan Fitness Award and Scarsella claimed the Goofus Award as the team’s humorist.