The first graduating class of the William Smith ice hockey program, along with Head Coach Jaime Totten and Assistant Coach Kate Gallagher, was presented the Heron Award at the Annual William Smith Athletics Banquet in the Vandervort Room on Tuesday, April 24.
 
The Heron Award is presented in recognition of the honoree's commitment to William Smith College and its athletics program. Recipients of the Heron Award are chosen by the Heron Society Board of Directors. This is the 21st time the award has been presented.
 
The eight seniors along with their coaches were presented with the award because they embody what the award is truly about. They showed character, fight, determination, resilience, will to win, and Heron Pride throughout their careers.
 
Rebecca Begley, Krista Federow, Kiley Fewster, Sarah Garrett, Catherine Linehan, Maggie Salmon, Emily Spencer, and Lizzy Weingast came to William Smith when there was no team, team room, or leaders to follow and have built a solid foundation for the Heron ice hockey team. They created a legacy for future generations, empowered their teammates, and were selfless as their roles changed.
 
The two coaches have dedicated their lives to building a championship culture, teaching life lessons through sport.
 
In the fourth year as a varsity program, the Herons posted an overall record of 16-6-4, a nine-win improvement over last season. Picked to finish fifth in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference preseason poll, William Smith posted an 11-2-3 record in conference play, finishing in second place, and earned a bye into the UCHC semifinals, the program's first playoff appearance. The Herons started the year with a 7-0-2 record and were one of the final three unbeaten teams remaining in all of Division III. William Smith was an impressive 11-1-1 on home ice this season with the lone loss coming to national runner-up Elmira in overtime. The Herons twice forced overtime with the Soaring Eagles, the only UCHC team to do so.
 
William Smith started to gain national attention this season, receiving votes in both national polls. The Herons appeared in four D3hockey.com polls and one USCHO.com poll. The Herons finished year ranked in the top-10 nationally in eight statistical categories.
William Smith Athletics presented more than 40 department and team awards. All of the Heron awards will be announced on HWSAthletics.com in the coming days.