1983 Winner – Mark Fusco Harvard University

Mark Fusco put up some outstanding numbers in his
senior Hobey Baker season recording 13 goals and 33
assists in 33 games while claiming multiple ECAC league honors. He holds the Harvard record for most career goals by a defenseman (44), most points by a defenseman in a season (46), and most career points by a defenseman (135). Raised in Burlington, Massachusetts, he was an all-America first team and all-Ivy League selection in 1981, 1982, and 1983, and was awarded Harvard’s John Tudor Memorial Cup in 1980, 1982, and 1983 for his sportsmanship, leadership and team co-operation. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team and played 80 games during two NHL seasons with the Hartford Whalers. Fusco graduated from Harvard Business School in 1990 and is the CEO of Aspen Technology.

1983 RUNNER-UP

RANDY VELISCHEK

Providence College – Senior – Defense – Montreal Quebec Canada

Randy John Velischek (born February 10, 1962) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey Defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League from 1982–83 until 1991–92 for the Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils, and Quebec Nordiques. Randy Velischek was drafted 53rd overall by the North Stars in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He played 509 career NHL games, scoring 21 goals and 97 points. Velischek was born in Montreal, Quebec. He spent his Junior Hockey career with the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association and the Verdun Éperviers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. After his Junior Hockey career ended, Velischek played 4 years of College Ice Hockey for the Providence College Friars from 1979 to 1983, where he majored in Business and French and graduated with honors. In addition to playing in the NHL, Velischek played professionally in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Indians, Maine Mariners, Halifax Citadels, and Cornwall Aces, the International Hockey League for the Milwaukee Admirals, the Central Hockey League for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and the British Hockey League for the Durham Wasps.

1983 ADDITIONAL TOP 10 FINALISTS

BOB BROOKE

Yale University – Junior – Defense – West Acton, Massachusetts

Robert William Brooke (born December 18, 1960 in Melrose, Massachusetts and raised in West Acton, Massachusetts) is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who played 447 games in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1990. Brooke was the first of the “AB Pros,” the handful of NHL players that grew up through the Acton-Boxborough youth hockey program of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s (Tom Barrasso, Ted Crowley, Bob Sweeney, Ian Moran, and Jeff Norton). He graduated from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in 1979. After graduation, Brooke played for the Yale University men’s ice hockey team graduating in 1984 due to his hiatus to play international hockey as a member of the United States national team at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. In the NHL, he played for the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and New Jersey Devils. After joining the NHL, he also played for US team in the 1984 Canada Cup, 1985 and 1987 Ice Hockey World Championships as well as the 1987 Canada Cup.

  • All-ECAC Hockey First Team, and AHCA East All-American,1982-1983.
  • Holds Yale’s career record for 113 assists.
  • Member of the 1984 Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team USA.

BRIAN HILLS

Bowling Green State University – Sophomore – Forward – Windsor, Ontario Canada

Brian Hills (born August 17, 1959) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player currently the associate head coach for the Rochester Institute of Technology men’s ice hockey team since 2005. Hills played ice hockey at Bowling Green State University the same time as current RIT head coach Wayne Wilson where they were teammates. Hills was a two-time All-American and two-time Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist. He led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in scoring twice and was the CCHA Player of the Year in 1983. In addition, Hills was a two-time CCHA All-Academic team member, and was a second team CoSIDA/GTE Academic All-American as a senior. Hills left Bowling Green as its all-time leading scorer and is currently second on the list. He scored 116 goals and added 154 assists for 270 points in 156 games. In 1982-83 he set a school single-season record that still stands with 94 points (37-57-94) in 40 games. Hills led the Falcons in scoring during his final three seasons. After graduating from Bowling Green with a degree in business administration, Hills spent 11 seasons playing professionally in Europe (eight years in Switzerland and three in Germany). He won three gold medals with Team Canada in Europe’s Spengler Cup.

  • All-CCHA First Team, 1981-1982.
  • AHCA West All-American, 1981-1982.
  • Bowling Green State University Athletics Hall of Fame, 1988.

BRYAN “BUTSY” ERICKSON

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities – Senior – Forward – Roseau, Minnesota

Bryan Lee “Butsy” Erickson (born March 7, 1960 in Roseau, Minnesota) is a retired American ice hockey player. Signed in 1983 as a free agent by the Washington Capitals after starring for the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey team, Erickson played parts of two seasons with the Capitals before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He also played with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets before retiring from active professional play after the 1993–94 NHL season. Erickson resides today in Roseau pursuing business interests. Erickson frequently played for Team USA in international hockey. He was a member of the 1982, 1986 and 1987 Ice Hockey World Championship teams as well as the 1984 Canada Cup. On September 20, 2012, he was elected to the University of Minnesota “M” Club and was celebrated as part of the 2012 inductee group at the September 22, 2012 football game in which the University of Minnesota beat Syracuse University 17-10. As an integral part of the Minnesota family, the “M” Club endeavors to uphold and enrich the great tradition of Golden Gopher Athletics. {insert Bio Paragraph}

  • All-WCHA Second Team, 1981-1982.
  • All-WCHA First Team, 1982-1983.
  • Named 4th on Minnesota’s all-time scoring list with 238 career points

JAMES PATRICK

University of North Dakota – Sophomore – Defense – Winnipeg, Montreal Canada

James Patrick (born June 14, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Until recently, he was a coach with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He is half Ukrainian (father Stephen Patrick (born Stepan Patrebka in Ukraine) played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers[1] and was born into a prominent family from the Lviv region) and half English. After a successful collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, Patrick represented Canada at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. After the Olympics, Patrick signed his first professional contract on March 5, 1984, and made his NHL debut two days later in Minnesota. Patrick scored his first NHL goal on March 17, 1984, in Philadelphia. Patrick enjoyed ten productive seasons in New York before being traded to the Hartford Whalers and then to the Calgary Flames during the 1993–94 season. Patrick is an Assistant Coach with the Dallas Stars.

  • Played in the Sarajevo Olympics for Team Canada, 1984.
  • WCHA Freshman of the Year, 1982.
  • Drafted 9th overall in NHL, 1981.

KURT KLEINENDORST

Providence College – Senior – Forward – Grand Rapids, MN

Kurt Kleinendorst (born December 31, 1960, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota) is an American professional ice hockey coach. He is currently serving as head coach of the Binghamton Senators in the American Hockey League. Kleinendorst played four seasons at Providence College and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Kleinendorst played for Providence College for four years, from 1979–80 to 1982–83, for Lou Lamoriello.[1] He was selected in the fourth round (77th overall) of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, but never played in the NHL. He was a member of the Tulsa Oilers (CHL) team that suspended operations on February 16, 1984,[2] playing only road games for final six weeks of 1983–84 season. Despite this adversity, the team went on to win the Adams Cup.[3] In 1986–87 he played with Iserlohn (Germany) and Peliitat Heinola (Finland) teams, and then with the Rotterdam Pandas in the Netherlands during the 1987–88 season,[4] Ingolstadt (Germany) 1988–89,[5] and continued to play minor league hockey through 1990.[1]

  • Inducted into Providence College Hall of Fame, 1997.
  • All-ECAC hockey First Team, 1982-1983.
  • AHCA East All-American, 1982-1983.

MIKE CARR

University of Massachusetts Lowell – Senior – Forward – {insert Hometown/State}

The all-time leading scorer in the history of the University of Lowell hockey program, Mike Carr was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He becomes the seventh member of the hockey program to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 1983 Hobey Baker Award winner as the top Division II player in the nation and a finalist for the overall Hobey Baker Award, Mike was also the ECAC Player of the Year and co-winner of the Thom Lawler Award (Outstanding Division II Player in New England). A four-time All-ECAC and All-New England selection, he was voted All-American honors as a senior by the American Hockey Coaches Association. In playoff competition, Mike was named the ECAC Division II East Tournament MVP Award in 1982 and twice was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team. He was also selected to play in the ACHA Senior All-Star game in 1983. Mike was the leading scorer in school history with 279 points. He held records for most career goals (134), most career assists (145), most points by a freshman (71), most goals by a freshman (38), most goals in a period (shared with Hall of Famer Gary Bishop – 4), most assists by a freshman (33), and most game winning goals (18). One of the finest centers to ever play for Coach Bill Riley, Mike played on three ECAC Championship teams (1981, 1982 and 1983) and one runner-up (1980), two NCAA title teams (1981 and 1982) and two third place teams (1980 and 1983). An excellent leader on the ice, Mike was co-captain as a senior. A gifted goal scorer, Mike led the team in scoring three of his four seasons. Ironically, he finished second to teammate Ken Kaiser his junior year when he had his best scoring season with 77 points. When he graduated, Mike held 14 school scoring records. As a freshman, Mike had 71 points and led the ECAC’s Division II East scoring list. He dropped to 57 points before rebounding with 77 points and 74 points in his last two years. Mike is the only player in school history to score 25 or goals and to record 30 or more assists four consecutive years.

  • Inducted into UMass Lowell Hall of Fame, 1988.
  • Lead the ECAC’s Division II East scoring list his freshman year of ice hockey.
  • Leading scorer in school history with 279 points.

RON SCOTT

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities – Senior – Forward – St. Paul, MN

Ronald Scott (born July 21, 1960 in Guelph, Ontario) is a retired NHL hockey player. Scott played for the Cornwall Royals in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and also with Michigan State University where he was named Alderton Male Athlete of the Year (1983); WCHA Freshman of the Year and WCHA First All-Star Team, 1981; CCHA First All-Star Team, 1981 – 1982; and CCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament, 1982. He went on to play as a goaltender for the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings in the 1980s early 1990s. Scott was member of the Tulsa Oilers (CHL) team that suspended operations on February 16, 1984, playing only road games for final six weeks of 1983-84 season. Despite this adversity, the team went on to win the league’s championship.[1]

  • All-CCHA First Team, 1982-1983.
  • CCHA Most Valuable Players in Tournament, 1982.
  • Named Alderton Male Athlete of the Year, 1983.

SCOTT BJUGSTAD

Colgate University – Senior – Forward

Minnesota is like Canada, and the game everyone dreams of is hockey. Scott, alongside his brother Mike, was a dominant hockey star at Irondale high school in New Brighton, MN. After re-writing the Irondale high school record book, Bjugstad made the natural jump to the University of Minnesota in 1979. In his 4 year collegiate career he played in two NCAA final fours and was the 1982-83 WCHA scoring champion. After 4 years in school, majoring in Business, Scott joined the United States national team in 1983-84 and participated in the Olympics. Despite featuring burgeoning talent like Pat Lafontaine, Chris Chelios, and Ed Olczyk, the Americans finished a distant 7th place. Following the Olympics Scott joined the Minnesota North Stars, who had drafted him 181st overall in 1981. In his welcome moment to the NHL, he broke his nose in his very first game! For the next year and a half was a very quiet player – scoring just 11 goals in 77 contests. He had played center all his life and was often shifted to the left wing. However Bjugstad’s fortune’s took a turn for the better in 1985-86. Playing on the top line with Neal Broten and Dino Ciccarelli, Bjugstad exploded for 43 goals and 76 points, including three hat tricks.

  • Named one of the 50 greatest players in University of Minnesota hockey history as part of “Legends on Ice” tribute, 2001.
  • Member of the USA Mens Ice Hockey Olympic Team, 1984.
  • Drafted in 9th round of NHL to Minnesota North Stars, 1984.