AHCA

33 ahcahockey.com | April-May 2026 nity. He understands the responsibility that comes with repre- senting our program and embraces the opportunity to give back. Kevin Anderson exemplifies the spirit of this honor in every way. His leadership, humility, work ethic, and selflessness define him, and our team and sport are better because of him." After missing most of his freshman season with injury, Ander- son has slotted into almost every role in Princeton's forward group over the last three seasons. His versatility and willingness to sacrifice for the team have set the tone for what it means to be a Princeton Hockey player under new head coach Ben Syer and it is no coincidence that with Anderson among the leader- ship group during Syer's second season that Princeton made tre- mendous strides as a program by spending time ranked among the Top-20 teams in the nation during the year and ultimately reaching the ECAC Championship Game in Lake Placid for the first time since 2018. Anderson's leadership and work ethic on the ice has translated to Princeton Hockey's off-ice endeavors as well. He has been a central figure in the Tigers' renewed commitment to community service stewarding his teammates into numerous servant lead- ership opportunities. Since 2023, Anderson has been instrumental in the creation and cultivation of "Tiger Pals" a program pairing Princeton student-athletes with local children in need of strong, consis- tent mentorship. Anderson has been the lead mentor to a pair of brothers in the town of Princeton, scheduling visits to their school where they provide help with homework, share strategies for social growth, and coach them in hockey and other sports. In addition to the time spent after school, Anderson has hosted his "Tiger Pals" at Baker Rink regularly for skates, games and social gatherings with the Tigers. This past year, Anderson has extended his involvement with the youths in the local Princeton community to a special relationship with Grayson Pohlman via Team IMPACT. Anderson helped coordi- nate the onboarding of the Princeton squad to Team IMPACT and facilitated Princeton's match with Grayson. Starting with a day-long tour of campus, Anderson has been there every step of the way as Grayson has become a part of Princeton's team including the official "Signing Day', trips to Princeton sporting events, a starring role in Princeton Hockey's Baker Bash event and visits to the locker room at home and around the country this season. As Grayson's mother, Gabrielle has shared, "From the beginning of Grayson's time with Team IMPACT and Princeton men's ice hockey, Kevin Anderson has made Grayson feel like he is truly one of the boys." He is always interested in Grayson's activities and how he is doing at school, and he supports Grayson every time he knows he has an upcoming doctor's appointment. Grayson has finally found a sense of belonging through Kevin's kindness." Anderson has also found time to give back to the sport of hockey, serving as a coach and clinician with both Princeton Youth Hockey and the Notre Dame Hounds program he grew up with in Saskatchewan. A three-time ECAC All-Academic Team selection, Anderson was named an AHCA Academic All-American in 2024. He has been chosen to serve on the Student-Athlete Advisory Councils for both Princeton Athletics and the ECAC, and he has previously served as Executive Director of Communications for Princeton Moving & Storage which organizes storage and delivery of per- sonal belongings for over 500 Princeton students each year. The HCA coordinates the award with nominations from the six Division I men's hockey conferences. The selection committee votes on the winner "who displays exemplary sportsmanship, is supremely competitive, intelligent and extraordinarily conditioned with an unmatched work ethic." The other finalists for this year's award were Bowling Green senior defenseman Jack Blake, Michigan State junior forward Tommi Mannisto, and U.S. Air Force Academy senior forward Holt Oliphant. —BEN SYER, Princeton head coach "He leads by example—through preparation, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to doing whatever the team needs to win. His competitiveness is genuine and relentless, and he approaches every practice and game with extraordinary focus and intensity."

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