(above) DU Captain Andy Thomas earned a WCHA ScholarshipFrom: DU Athletics Website
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today (May 9) announced that Andrew Thomas (Bow, N.H.) of the University of Denver has received one of the annual WCHA post-graduate scholarships for 2008-09.
An advocate of excellence both on and off the ice, the WCHA announced the annual post-graduate scholarship program in April of 2003, with the first recipients named after the 2003-04 school year. The scholarship grant is for $10,000 for post-graduate studies.
Thomas is set to graduate from DU in June with a Bachelor of Science degree in management. He was honored as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete this past season, is a three-time member of the All-WCHA Academic Team, carries a GPA of 3.81 in his management major, and has an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.37 (on a 4.0 scale). Thomas hopes to pursue a Masters of Science degree in business intelligence, which is a program unique only to Daniels Business School at DU and eventually accept a position at an upper level management consulting firm.
As team captain in 2007-08, Thomas saw action in all 41 of the Pioneers’ games, helping anchor their nationally-ranked (9th) scoring defense and leading Denver to an overall record of 26-14-1 (.646), a third-place finish in the WCHA regular season race, the Broadmoor Trophy as team champions of the 2008 Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five held at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., and to another berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey championship. He led the team with a +14 plus/minus rating.
“Andrew Thomas has made an outstanding contribution to the University of Denver Pioneer hockey program,” head coach George Gwozdecky. “During his four-year career, he became one of the best defensive defensemen in the WCHA and was constantly matched up against our opponents’ top offensive units. He played a vital role on our No. 1 penalty-killing unit and led our team in hits. His strength, courage, character, intelligence and personality made him not only one of our greatest team leaders but also one of the most respected student-athletes on our campus.”
Over his 161-game collegiate career at Denver, Thomas was a defensive regular all four seasons, contributing 26 scoring points and playing on the Pioneers’ 2004-05 MacNaughton Cup (WCHA regular season), Broadmoor Trophy, and NCAA Men’s Frozen Four (national championship team. A 2005 fourth round draftee of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, he was also chosen to participate in the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge this past April 11 at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.
“Andrew always set the example for his teammates with his mature and serious approach to his academics and to his hockey training,” added Gwozdecky. “Throughout his four years at the University, he volunteered his time to many community activities including the Starlight Starbright Foundation and the University of Denver Youth Hockey Association. He also represented the hockey program at numerous other volunteer activities throughout the region. He is one of the finest student-athletes and leaders to have ever worn the Pioneer hockey jersey.”
Thomas was nominated for the WCHA Post-Graduate Scholarship by Denver Faculty Athletics Representative Nancy Sampson. According to Sampson, Thomas demonstrated leadership by example on the ice, with his teammates off the ice, in the community and in class. “Those of us who have worked with Andy, whether in class, the community or with hockey know he will be a positive influence in whatever endeavors he chooses in the future,” said Sampson. “He is a young man with charisma, depth and integrity.”
An advocate of excellence both on and off the ice, the WCHA announced the annual post-graduate scholarship program in April of 2003, with the first recipients named after the 2003-04 school year. The scholarship grant is for $10,000 for post-graduate studies.
Thomas is set to graduate from DU in June with a Bachelor of Science degree in management. He was honored as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete this past season, is a three-time member of the All-WCHA Academic Team, carries a GPA of 3.81 in his management major, and has an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.37 (on a 4.0 scale). Thomas hopes to pursue a Masters of Science degree in business intelligence, which is a program unique only to Daniels Business School at DU and eventually accept a position at an upper level management consulting firm.
As team captain in 2007-08, Thomas saw action in all 41 of the Pioneers’ games, helping anchor their nationally-ranked (9th) scoring defense and leading Denver to an overall record of 26-14-1 (.646), a third-place finish in the WCHA regular season race, the Broadmoor Trophy as team champions of the 2008 Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five held at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., and to another berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey championship. He led the team with a +14 plus/minus rating.
“Andrew Thomas has made an outstanding contribution to the University of Denver Pioneer hockey program,” head coach George Gwozdecky. “During his four-year career, he became one of the best defensive defensemen in the WCHA and was constantly matched up against our opponents’ top offensive units. He played a vital role on our No. 1 penalty-killing unit and led our team in hits. His strength, courage, character, intelligence and personality made him not only one of our greatest team leaders but also one of the most respected student-athletes on our campus.”
Over his 161-game collegiate career at Denver, Thomas was a defensive regular all four seasons, contributing 26 scoring points and playing on the Pioneers’ 2004-05 MacNaughton Cup (WCHA regular season), Broadmoor Trophy, and NCAA Men’s Frozen Four (national championship team. A 2005 fourth round draftee of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, he was also chosen to participate in the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge this past April 11 at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.
“Andrew always set the example for his teammates with his mature and serious approach to his academics and to his hockey training,” added Gwozdecky. “Throughout his four years at the University, he volunteered his time to many community activities including the Starlight Starbright Foundation and the University of Denver Youth Hockey Association. He also represented the hockey program at numerous other volunteer activities throughout the region. He is one of the finest student-athletes and leaders to have ever worn the Pioneer hockey jersey.”
Thomas was nominated for the WCHA Post-Graduate Scholarship by Denver Faculty Athletics Representative Nancy Sampson. According to Sampson, Thomas demonstrated leadership by example on the ice, with his teammates off the ice, in the community and in class. “Those of us who have worked with Andy, whether in class, the community or with hockey know he will be a positive influence in whatever endeavors he chooses in the future,” said Sampson. “He is a young man with charisma, depth and integrity.”
2 comments:
Congrats to Andy, just icing on the cake of his DU career. If he wants it, I say make him volunteer assistant while he pursues his graduate degree.
I second that. What a great honor for him. He was a great captain and gave a huge amount to the program.
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