Fitzgerald announced as nominee for Senior CLASS award
2/13/2021 9:21:00 AM | Men's Hockey
OAKLAND PARK, KAN. - The award nominations continue to roll in for St. Cloud State University men's hockey forward Kevin Fitzgerald (Hinsdale, Ill. / Aberdeen). After being nominated for the Hockey Humanitarian Award last week, the senior assistant captain was announced as a candidate for the 2020-21 Men's Hockey Senior CLASS Award Friday afternoon.
Fitzgerald was one of 15 Division I men's hockey players nominated for the prestigious award, which is given out annually by the Senior CLASS organization. In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as a NCAA Division I senior with notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Fitzgerald certainly fit the bill, as he is he second Husky to be nominated for the prestigious honor in the last three seasons. Athletically, Fitzgerald came to St. Cloud State as a walk-on in 2017-18 and worked his way into the upper ranks of the Huskies offensive the last two seasons. A staple in St. Cloud State's top line throughout 2020-21, Fitzgerald has appeared in all 20 games for the Huskies, recording 10 total points with five goals and five assists. In 115 career games, Fitzgerald has posted 59 points with 25 goals and 34 assists. He additionally owns a career +/- of +15 and was voted an assistant captain prior to the 2020-21 season.
Off the ice, Fitzgerald's resume is equally impressive. An accounting major, Fitzgerald has maintained a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.42 and will graduate in May 2021 with 150 total credits. He is a three-time Academic All-NCHC selection and is currently enrolled in the St. Cloud State honors program. He is a two-time recipient of St. Cloud State's Herberger Business School Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship and earned the Elloyd A. Hauser Scholarship for the Herberger School of Business. During the summer of 2020, Fitzgerald interned with KPMG, an accounting firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and accepted a full time position as an Audit Associate beginning in fall 2021. Additionally, in his spare time, Fitzgerald volunteers with the St. Cloud Frostbite Special Olympics floor hockey program and has participated in several Huskies outreach community programs, including the Polar Plunge, Skate with the Huskies, and Huskies Haulers.
In the upcoming weeks, the 15 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists of whom will be placed on an official ballot for nationwide voting. The Senior CLASS Award winner will then be announced during the 2021 Frozen Four in April.
