Honors Pending for John "Jocko" McLennan and Bob Rosen
AHCA to recognize pair at Frozen Four Luncheon on Friday in Buffalo
The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) will present two of its major awards for 2019 at a luncheon this Friday in Buffalo, NY, during the NCAA Frozen Four weekend. Previously announced in January, these awards are the Lou Lamoriello Award, for career achievement, and the John Mariucci Award, which goes to a secondary school coach.
The luncheon is slated for Friday, April 12, at 12:30 p.m. at the Lexus Club in the KeyBank center, One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza in Buffalo. Cost of the luncheon is $40, payable to the AHCA. Anyone interested in attending should contact Kathy Wynters at kwynters@hockeyeastonline.com.
The honorees and their awards are:
LOU LAMORIELLO AWARD Named after the former Providence College player, coach and athletic director, this award recognizes a former college hockey player or coach who goes on to success in a professional career, in or outside of athletics.
2019 Recipient: John "Jocko" McLennan, Clarkson University
John "Jocko" McLennan is a native of Nova Scotia, Canada. He holds both a Bachelor and a Master of Science degree and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Cape Breton University.
Jocko returned to Canada after graduation and enjoyed a 35 year career in the telecommunication industry. He worked as an entrepreneur with Mitel Corporation, as a pioneer in launching the Canadian wireless industry, and retired as president and CEO of Bell Canada in 1998. John also served as a board member with several international and Canadian public corporations.
Jocko graduated from high school in Ottawa, Ontario in 1964. He was recruited to Clarkson by legendary coach, Lenny Ceglarski. He enjoyed a successful career highlighted by playing in the NCAA Division I championship game in 1966. He often attributed his success in both his hockey and business careers to the many life lessons he gained from Ceglarski.
In recognition of Lenny, Jocko and his family, in 2008, created an endowment to fund the "Leonard S. Ceglarski Chair," which is used to fund the Clarkson Golden Knights men's hockey coach position. He served as a Clarkson trustee from 1983 through 1993, and was inducted into Clarkson's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Jocko's son, Mark, attended Boston College 1998 through 2001 winning a National Hockey Championship under famed coach Jerry York, a former head coach at Clarkson.
THE JOHN MARIUCCI AWARD: John Mariucci, the former coach of the University of Minnesota, was not only an outstanding college coach, but also a driving force behind the growth of hockey in the United States. In 1987, the AHCA created this award to honor a secondary school association coach who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and enthusiasm of the "GODFATHER OF U.S. HOCKEY," John Mariucci.
2019 Recipient: Bob Rosen, Williamsville (NY) HS
Bob Rosen is from Williamsville, New York – a suburb of Buffalo — where he played his youth and college hockey, enjoying an outstanding college career at Canisius. As accomplished as he was during his playing days, Rosen has surpassed those feats as a coach, developing talent and guiding scholastic and youth teams to championship success. He coached 30 years with Amherst Youth Hockey, leading teams in the organization to four national championships.
With the formation of the Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation in 1990, the former Canisius assistant accepted the head coaching job at Williamsville North (NY) High School – a position he's held for 29 years.
Upon nominating him, former Buffalo State coach Nick Carriere said, "Bob was my high school hockey coach for the first couple of years that I moved to the United States. He has a very honest and direct way of dealing with players that lets you know what is on his mind, and at the same time showing that he genuinely cares about your well-being. He puts so much time and effort into hockey, business, and his family that he is truly a selfless coach."
Among his accomplishments at North: five state championships including an unbeaten season in 2011; a three-time state coach of the year; the winningest active coach in the state with 482 wins; selected to coach in the Scotty Bowman Hockey Showcase nine times over an 11-year stretch and coached New York State team in 1998 Hockey USA Select 17 National Tournament East.
Rosen, who won a national junior college championship at Canton as a player, also is a member of the Amherst Youth Hockey Hall of Fame.
