The Amo Bessone Awards Committee announced their annual winners on Wednesday, honoring the top high school hockey players in western Massachusetts. The annual banquet accompanying the awards, originally scheduled for May 5, had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pope Francis freshman Ryan Leonard earned the prestigious Amo Bessone Award, given to the MVP of western Massachusetts. Leonard helped lead the Cardinals to their third-straight Super 8 state final with his 24 goals throughout the season, the top mark in Division 1. Their championship matchup against Arlington High School was cancelled just days before the puck dropped due to COVID-19 concerns, dubbing Arlington and Pope Francis as state co-champions.
Though he appreciates the award, the announcement tastes just a bit bittersweet after coming up one game short of finishing the playoffs.
“For corona to come in out of nowhere that Friday afternoon … it was heartbreaking to all of us,” Leonard said of the cancelled season. “But (being named co-champs) was still a really good reward for our program, to get (Coach Brian) Foley that first Super 8 win … I’m very humbled to now win the Bessone Award as well.”
Ryan follows right in the footsteps of his older brother John Leonard, who won the Amo Bessone Award in 2015 while at Pope Francis and was recently signed by the San Jose Sharks. With his big brother at home since UMass suspended in-person classes, Ryan has had plenty of time to learn from John and the workouts that the Sharks have given him in the offseason.
“We’ve always been an athletic family, but never really for hockey … we were a basketball family,” said Ryan’s father John Leonard Sr., who was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1982. Ryan’s older sisters Alyssa and Brianna played college basketball.
“John was a trailblazer and with the success he’s had … Ryan sees how it transpires,” Leonard Sr. added.
Just a 15-year-old freshman, Leonard has plenty of hockey ahead of him at Pope Francis, and he can’t wait to get back on the ice.
“I’m just trying to stay calm and stay in the moment, and get better every day,” Leonard said. “I’m ready for rinks to open up and to get back out there with my teammates.”
Leonard’s teammate and Pope Francis senior captain Logan Dapprich was also honored, bringing home the Eddie Shore Award for top defensive player. Dapprich, of Amherst, anchored a Cardinal defense that allowed just 36 goals in 22 games played last season. Dapprich recently signed with the South Shore Kings Hockey of the United States Premier Hockey League.
Other award recipients include Amherst Regional senior Eli Slovin, who received the Harold Passerini Award for his achievements on and off the ice as an athlete, student, and member of the community.
Greenfield junior Bryan Baumann was named the top player in Division 3A hockey with the Kevin J. Major Award. Baumann scored 45 points for the Green Wave en route to a state championship.
Longmeadow co-op team senior captain Jordan Kowalski received the Kacey Bellamy girls MVP award for her stellar final season, topping off her career point total at 92 with 50 goals and 42 assists.
More Lancers were honored as Longmeadow senior Videep Vemulapalli took home top offensive player honors with the Gene Grazia Award. Vemulapalli chipped in 11 goals and 17 assists as the Lancers worked their way to a state championship. Longmeadow junior Simon Higgons received the Bill Ryan Sportsmanship Award.
West Springfield senior Casey Bridges nabbed the Bruce Landon Award for goaltending excellence. His work at the net helped lead the Terriers to their first postseason berth in almost 20 years.
Minnechaug senior captain Stephen Mushenko was honored for his leadership and dedication on the ice, receiving the Rob Murray Award. Mushenko notched 23 goals and 19 assists for the Falcons last year.
Each award winner received a $500 scholarship along with their trophy, which will be dispersed individually in lieu of the annual banquet.