BY RANDY SCHULTZ, NYHOL
The 2024/25 Tyler Putnam Awards Banquet was recently held at the Webster Golf Club in Webster, NY. Twenty-six Rochester area youth and high school hockey players received Putnam Awards, while two other area players received the Unsung Hero and Goaltender Awards, respectively.
The 26 players that received a Putnam Award include: Nicholas Beechey (Irondequoit High School); Anthony Gianvecchio (ROCO, the Rochester Coalition); Carter Griffin (Greece Storm); Matthew Dieter (Webster Schroeder High School); Ryan Hanley (Churchville Chili High School); Blake Hollister (Rochester Youth Hockey).
Jacob Hutchins (Batavia/Notre Dame High School); Aiden Kennedy (Hilton High School); Matt Kozara (McQuaid Jesuit High School); Luke LaForce (Rochester Aces); Nathan MacBride (Victor High School); Carson Meehan (Brighton/HFL/ER High School).
Anna Miller (Rochester Edge); Parker Monette (Gates Chili High School); Camden Monks (Webster Youth Hockey); Carmine Pangallo (Webster Thomas High School); Sam Prokupets (BK Selects Boys); Jack Reichard (Penfield High School).
Jack Schoenweitz (Monroe County Youth Hockey); Alexander Schram (Brockport High School); Finnean Storie (Tri-County Youth Hockey); Samantha Taylor (Greater Rochester Girls High School Hockey); Gregor Vogel (University of Rochester); Ryan Whitney (Aquinas Institute).
Griffin Rizzi (Pittsford High School) and Landen Christ (Spencerport High School).
The Colin Montesano Unsung Hero Award was presented to Jack Davila (Aquinas Institute). The Joshua Opladen Goaltender Award winner was Barrett Paolini (Hilton High School).
Tyler Putnam was known for his high energy, incredible work ethic and his desire to achieve his goals. He has been memorialized with a banner that hangs above the ice in the Lakeshore Hockey Arena as well as a memorial helmet sticker that dawns the symbol of a gold hardhat – a symbol of Putnam’s hard work and dedication to the game he loved.
On July 7, 2011 Putnam’s hockey dreams ended tragically when he died of an illness called Meningococcemia (Meningitis B). Following his passing The Tyler Putnam Foundation was formed.
Since 2012 the Foundation has donated more than $80,000 to families in need of assistance for registration fees for hockey. Additionally, the Foundation has awarded an annual Scholar Athlete Scholarship of $1000 (for the last 11 years, totaling $11,000) to a graduating Senior at Irondequoit High School (where Tyler attended) who played hockey and is moving on to college.
Lindsay Putnam, Tyler’s father and President of the Tyler Putnam Foundation, thanked all the Foundation’s sponsors for their continued support.
Among those thanked were Patrick Duff, who has served as Master of Ceremonies for several years and The Larrabee Foundation as a Premier Sponsor of the Tyler Putnam Awards.
“None of this would be possible without the generous donations made by all the sponsors,” concluded Lindsay. “The purpose of the Tyler Putnam Awards is memorializing a talented and hard working hockey player while recognizing this area’s finest young hockey players for their dedication to the sport.”
WCMF radio personality, Pat Duffy, was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
Former Buffalo Sabres player and now a color commentator for Sabres broadcasts, Rob Ray, was the guest speaker.
Ray, along with Tyler’s father, Lindsay Putnam, and Tyler’s sister, Shannon, presented the awards to the recipients.
Photo Gallery by Janet Schultz, NYHOL. (All rights reserved; for copies or permission to use email Janet@nyhockeyonline)
