Athletics News

Rob Campbell Named as Semifinalist for Joe Concannon Award

March 02, 2007

NEW LONDON, Conn.--Connecticut College junior forward Rob Campbell of Reading, Massachusetts has been honored as one of eighteen semifinalists for the seventh annual Joe Concannon Award, presented annually to New England´s best American born Division II or III hockey player. Dave O´Brien, president of the Gridiron Club of Boston, announced the semifinalists Tuesday afternoon.

Campbell played an instrumental role in one of the biggest turnarounds in college hockey this season. After winning just three conference games in 2005-2006, Connecticut College finished 10-13-2 and 9-9-1 in conference play. The Camels captured their first New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) postseason berth, completing the regular season with a four-game unbeaten streak.

Playing on a line with freshmen Trevor Bradley and Ryan Howarth, Campbell tallied 11 goals and ranked seventh in the NESCAC in both assists (18) and points (29).

A Dean´s List student, Campbell is majoring in human development and carries a minor in history. Connecticut College head coach Jim Ward is impressed with Campbell´s development on and off the ice and looks forward to having him back for another exciting season.

"I´m really excited for Robbie," Ward asserted. "Not just for the recognition. But for how he has grown and matured as a student-athlete here at Connecticut College. He has worked hard in all aspects of his college life as a student, athlete, and member of the Connecticut College community. As a player, he has become much more responsible and reliable in all three zones of the ice. He finished as one of the top + - players on the team and led us in total points." Eight of the 16 semifinalists were drawn from the NESCAC.

Tim Costello, chairman of the Concannon Award Committee, is impressed with the talented pool of semifinalists.

"In addition to proving themselves as superb hockey players, each of the nominated players exemplifies sportsmanship and character in representing his team and institution. This year in particular the committee´s final decision will not be an easy one, based on the caliber of play and competitive nature of all of the conferences. We will be very diligent in evaluating the final performances of the season in order to determine this year´s winner." The Gridiron Club will announce the winners of the Joe Concannon Award and the Walter Brown Award, college hockey´s oldest nationally recognized accolade, in mid-March. Both awards will be presented to the respective recipients at the New England Hockey Writers´ Dinner on Wednesday, April 11 at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus, Mass.

About the Concannon Award: The Gridiron Club established the Joe Concannon Award in 2001 to honor Joe, a lifelong devotee of college hockey, former member of the Walter Brown Award Selection Committee and, as a journalist, a staunch advocate for the amateur athletes he knew and covered. A native of Litchfield, Connecticut, Joe graduated from Boston University in 1961. He served as sports information director (SID) at Holy Cross before joining the Boston Globe in the late 1960´s to cover college sports. Joe declined frequent invitations by his editors to write about Boston´s major professional sports teams, preferring to concentrate on the colleges, distance running and golf. He wrote the book Marathoning with Bill Rodgers and established the highly successful Litchfield Road Race in his hometown. Joe was a world traveler and was especially proud of his Irish heritage, frequently sojourning to the Emerald Isle. He passed away in 2000.

For more information contact: William Tomasian (860) 439-2501; william.tomasian@conncoll.edu