ST. PAUL, MN - Buffalo State center Rocky Reeves, who has proved to be a "person of the mind" as well as a "person of the heart," has been named recipient of the 2002 Hockey Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen.

The announcement was made today (April 5th) as part of college hockey's award day. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the announcement of the Hobey Baker Award recipient in St. Paul, MN, which is the site of college hockey's Frozen Four.

This is the seventh year the Award has been presented. Boston University goalie J.P. McKersie received the initial Humanitarian Award in 1996. University of Michigan defenseman Blake Sloan was the 1997 recipient, while University of Wisconsin's Erik Raygor was the 1998 Humanitarian. In 1999, Rochester Institute of Technology defenseman Kristine Pierce became the first woman, and first non-Division 1 player to receive the Award. The University of Maine's Jim Leger won the Award in 2000, while Jason Cupp from the University of Nebraska?Omaha was last year's recipient.

"This is a tremendous honor," said Reeves, a native of Anchorage, AK, who recently completed his junior year of eligibility at Buffalo State. "I am really embarrassed to receive this award for something we should all be doing.

"I think that what has happened over the years is that we have become people of the mind and forgotten about being people of the heart," continued Reeves, who was a finalist for last year's Humanitarian Award.

For more than three years, Reeves has worked tirelessly at being the latter as his volunteer activities within the Buffalo community have included "Take Back the Night," holiday rummage sale for the homeless, Project FLIGHT Book Drive for the needy organizations of Western New York, AID BUFFALO food and clothing drive for the United Way, and serving Thanksgiving dinner through the Concerned Ecumenical Ministry Soup Kitchen.

Ironically, had it not been for an accident he sustained early in his freshman year at Buffalo State, Reeves might not have had the time to become involved in the Buffalo community.

Playing a tournament game in late October, 1998 against Hobart, Reeves, who had earlier scored a goal on a penalty shot, went sliding into the boards. He had put up his leg to cushion the impact. The result was a broken leg that sent him to the sidelines for the rest of the 1998-99 season.

Rather than sit around, Reeves met with Buffalo State head coach Jim Fowler to discus a project he wanted to undertake.

"I thought it was important for us to improve the image and increase the visibility of the athletic program both at school and in the community," recalled Reeves.

It didn't take long for Reeves' idea to spread around campus.

"There was a Take Back the Night Program planned for school," Reeves went on about the program designed to deal with sexual abuse and rape. "A number of the city officials were planning to attend the meeting on campus. The athletic department got a call from a woman in our health department asking for our help in getting people to attend the meeting."

Within a day, Reeves had lined up over 100 student-athletes to attend the program, and the seed that would lead to his involvement in Buffalo State and the city had been sewn.

"Every year, I have tried to do something different to help out," said Reeves.

Thus, Take Back the Night led to cleaning up and serving at the Concerned Ecumenical Ministry Soup Kitchen in the spring of 1999, the National Condom Week Safe Sex Promotion in February 2000, the Carlysclub Cancer Fundraiser in September, 2000, the organization and implementation of the Holiday rummage sale for the homeless in December 2000, and the book distribution to the needy of Westwhile, Reeves was busy rehabilitating his right leg so he could return to hockey and still maintain a challenging class schedule in his major of health and wellness.

He returned to hockey for the 1999-2000 season, and, despite having missed virtually the entire 1998-99 season, he was elected team captain.

He also captained the 2000-01 and 2001-02 team, and is expected to be elected captain of next year's team.

This past year, Buffalo State finished with an overall record of 11-15-1, while they were 5-8-1 in conference play. In addition, they advanced to the post-season playoffs for the first time in program history.

Reeves played in all 27 games and finished with 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. Four of his goals came on the power play, while two were shorthanded. He was third on the team in goals and fifth in points. For his career, he has 35 goals and 42 assists for 77 points in 76 games played.

"Hockey has given me an opportunity to help others," Reeves said. "I have been able to get some of my teammates to get involved as well."

Not only has he influenced his teammates to volunteer in the community, but he has also steered other Buffalo State student-athletes into helping others.

"I am president of SAAC," he said of Buffalo State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a group of student-athletes from all sports whose responsibility it is to serve as a voice to the athletic department.

This group has been involved in a number of volunteer projects including collecting food and clothing for the Buffalo United Way in the aftermath of the September 11th bombing of the World Trade Center. In an effort to assist those who were affected in New York City, the Buffalo United Way sent much of its food and clothing to the city. That effort depleted much of what was on hand in Buffalo. Reeves' efforts, along with other Buffalo State student-athletes, helped their local United Way build up its supply of food and clothing.

"I have always been interested in helping others," said Reeves. "I am also trying to lay a foundation for future Buffalo State athletes. We live in a world so caught up in our own lives that we tend to forget the impact we can have on others."

Academically, he has maintained a 3.30 GPA while majoring in health and wellness. He received his Bachelors degree this past December and is currently working on his Masters.

He has been named to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team two years, was on the SUNYAC Commissioner's List twice, and on the Dean's List for three years.

Reeves has also been nominated for four other awards. They include the Buffalo State President's Medal, the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence, the Outstanding Senior Award in his major of health and wellness, and the Outstanding Community Service Award also in his major. The announcement of the winners of these awards is still pending.

In his letter nominating Rocky for the Humanitarian Award, Buffalo State hockey coach Jim Fowler wrote:

"Rocky defines what this award exemplifies both on and off the ice. Rocky does not do all these great things to receive the recognition, but does so because he knows he is making a difference."

"I want to continue helping others," continued Reeves, who hopes to work in the strength and conditioning field. He also might get into coaching. "There is still a lot to be done, and I want to do whatever I can."

The other finalists for the Humanitarian Award this year were

Daniel Casella, a senior at Dartmouth College who began his community service while attending Lawrence Academy. Casella plans to continue his commitment to others after graduation as he has enlisted in the Peace Corps and will be working to rebuild a community in the Caribbean.

Thomas Conti, a three-year captain at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, who is in Phi Beta Kappa, has been nominaence University. One of seven children, he became involved in community service in 1996 when he started tutoring Vietnamese children and has continued with his volunteer efforts since then.

Jeff Wilson, a four-year starter and captain at Union College, who has been an integral member of the Schenectady, NY community. Among his activities have been "Dutchmen Skate for Cancer" with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Night, the Walk for Juvenile Diabetes, and visits to children's hospitals. What's more, he visited local schools to talk to the youngsters about education and the importance of reading.



- BENGALS -