Courtesy Norwich Sports Information
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Senior defenseman Cam Beecy (Stowe, Vt.) of the Norwich Universty men’s ice hockey team was named one of five finalists for the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award on Tuesday afternoon.
Beecy is the second finalist in Norwich hockey history, joining Shawn Baker ’12 as the only student-athletes to ever reach the finalist round. He is joined as a finalist this year by SUNY Fredonia’s Luke Rivera, University of Wisconsin’s Annie Pankowski and Jake Bunz, as well as Ohio State’s Tommy Parran.
The 24th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award, which recognizes college hockey’s “finest citizen” will be announced Friday, April 12th as part of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Division I Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y.
Sidney Peters from the University of Minnesota was honored as the 2018 recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award.
By reaching the finalist round, the Hockey Humanitarian Foundation will donate $500 to a charity of Beecy’s choice. The check presentation will occur this Saturday, prior to the start of the Southern Maine game at 4 p.m. in Kreitzberg Arena.
Beecy has been a three-year letter winner for the Norwich University men’s ice hockey team as he is in his senior year with the program in 2018-19.
“Cam is a senior leader on our team on and off the ice for our team,” said NU head men’s hockey coach Cam Ellsworth. “Cam has played in eight of our team’s first 13 games and contributes both even strength and on the penalty kill. What is more impressive is that when he isn’t in the lineup he is the first guy to work for his teammates. He will take off his suit jacket and sharpen skates or fix equipment without being asked. He genuinely focused on the best way to help our team be successful every day.”
On top of being a member of the hockey team, he carries a 3.82 GPA as a nursing major and has been a two-time New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) All-Academic team honoree.
Beecy is a four-year Air Force ROTC Scholarship recipient and will be commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force upon graduating in May. He will serve a minimum of four years active duty after graduating and then another two in the reserves.
Beecy was a sophomore on Norwich’s 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship team, helping guide the Cadets to the program’s fourth national title in program history. In his career, Beecy has played in 34 games, registering two goals and three assists for five points as a shutdown defenseman.
As a junior, Beecy was a flight commander responsible for training 16 Air Force ROTC cadets.
He has captained the Positive Trackers youth team for several years at the prestigious Travis Roy Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament held annually in Vermont. The Wiffle Ball Tournament raises over a half million dollars annually for those with spinal cord injuries and providing inspiration and support for athletes of differing ability.
This past summer, Cam organized and hosted an outdoor-circuit workout competition designed to champion suicide prevention in Stowe, Vt. that raised $8,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Beecy was motivated by his friend and teammate Kacy Pavlik, who died by suicide in 2009.
“Losing Kacy replaced my joy with pain and a heavy heart. He’s the reason I’m acting to provide insight and support for those affected by or considering suicide,” Beecy said.
Beecy’s goals are to let young people know that they can make a difference in other peoples’ lives because often they are the first to see warning signs in their friends and peers; and to raise awareness and funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Cam has also served a youth summer hockey summer camp coach for the Vermont Flames for the past five years. Last year, he was the head coach of a 12-year-old youth hockey team in Central/Northern Vermont.
Cam was one of five finalists for a national fundraising award called the Courageous Use of Sport Award presented by Beyond Sport through his work with Positive Tracks.
Positive Tracks is a national nonprofit organization that empowers youth of all backgrounds and abilities to use sport as a catalyst for change. Play soccer to fight racism. Shoot hoops for hunger. Through a mixed methods approach of leadership development, service learning and hands-on mentorship, Positive Tracks teaches young people how to take action by sweating for good.
Cam has served as Youth Ambassador Board member with Positive Tracks for the last three years, but he has been involved with the organization since his prep school days at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. In his role as a youth ambassador, he helps serve as a mentor to other youth in addition to providing Positive Tracks with critical guidance related to program development and strategic growth.
Cam has led and mentored peers and organized many communities around multiple causes. He first partnered with Positive Tracks while in high school when he organized a 3v3 soccer tournament at Kimball Union Academy on behalf of Grassroot Soccer. His goal was to mobilize peers in helping to eradicate AIDS and better understand stigma around getting tested for HIV. His tournament was a success as the biggest soccer gathering in KUA’s history.