Ferris State Hockey's Simon Denis Honored As 2014-15 Jimmy Swears Courage Award Recipient
Note: This is the first of four major FSU Athletics Awards that will be presented for the 2014-15 campaign between now and July 21.
Big Rapids, Mich. - After making a tremendous comeback this past season from a severe injury, Ferris State University men's ice hockey student-athlete Simon Denis (Burnaby, British Columbia) has been chosen as this year's recipient of FSU's Jimmy Swears Courage Award for the recently-completed 2014-15 athletics campaign.
The Jimmy Swears Courage Award is presented to a deserving student-athlete or current personnel within the Bulldog Athletics program, who when confronted with a life-altering situation, has used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome the odds.
"Simon displayed outstanding courage and perseverance in returning to the ice following a potential career-ending injury in 2013," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "His dedication and determination were clearly evident throughout the process and we are so proud of not only his remarkable return, but also of the attitude and leadership Simon displayed in the face of such a comeback.
"We are honored to announce Simon as the recipient of the Jimmy Swears Courage Award and we look forward to his continued success on the ice as a senior this coming year," he added.
During the 2013-14 season, Denis played in six games for the Bulldogs before suffering a major season-ending spinal injury in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) league road contest at Alabama-Huntsville. However, he remained an integral part of the program off the ice as FSU went on to capture the WCHA's MacNaughton Cup as regular-season champions in their debut season and eventually reached the NCAA Elite Eight.
This past year, Denis returned to the ice as a redshirt junior and played a key role for the Bulldogs as FSU advanced to the WCHA Final Five for the second consecutive year. He played in 35 contests and tallied 14 points on three goals and 11 assists while ranking as the team's top scoring defenseman. Denis claimed WCHA All-Academic Team honors this past season and was one of FSU's alternate team captains.
"I'm extremely proud of Simon and the courage he displayed in coming back from a serious injury," said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. "He maintained a positive outlook on life throughout the process and his personality and attitude served him well in the rehab process and his eventual return to action. He's very deserving of receiving this award."
Over his three-plus seasons with the Bulldogs, Denis has appeared in 108 career games and recorded 45 points on eight goals and 37 assists. He tallied 13 points as a freshman in 2011-12 as Ferris State won the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) regular-season crown and made the school's first appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four where the Bulldogs reached the national title game. Denis then tallied a personal career-high 17 points on four goals and 13 helpers in 37 outings during the 2012-13 season.
For his career, the three-year letterwinner currently holds a +6 plus/minus efficiency rating and has 88 blocks to date. He also received an opportunity two years ago to participate in a scrimmage contest at the Detroit Red Wings' NHL Development Camp in Traverse City. Before arriving at Ferris State, he played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Tri-City Storm after two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Burnaby Express.
In addition to his impressive credentials on the ice, Denis has also been one of the Bulldogs' most active participants off the ice. Besides annually assisting with a number of the team's community service endeavors, he's also worked the last three summers assisting the Ferris State Athletics department's marketing and sales efforts. He spearheaded the Bulldogs' annual involvement with the area special olympics hockey team and was a driving force and creative mind behind the school's first-ever "Pink In The Rink" game that benefited the Susan P. Wheatlake Wellness Center and raised support for breast cancer awareness. His efforts for the unique game included working on corporate sponsorship, marketing and promotions for the event. Denis also played an integral role in efforts related to last fall's "Military Appreciation Night" contest.
Denis has also served as the team's representative on the Ferris State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and been active on campus in the sports communication program during his time at FSU.
The award is named in honor of longtime FSU Athletics booster Jim Swears, who passed away Jan. 17, 2007, at the age of 64 following a lengthy bout with cancer. A local businessman and community activist, Swears was a strong supporter of Ferris State men's ice hockey, football, and basketball. He worked diligently to help develop and maintain FSU's status as a NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program. Additionally, Swears served on the board of directors for the Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey Association and was an active member of the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association. He was the 2006 recipient of the Northern Lights Lifetime Achievement Award for business and industry in the Big Rapids (Mich.) area.
Nominees for the award are an inspiration to their peers, serve as a role model to others and are a team leader while responding to adversity. Those individuals nominated for the award must be involved with the Bulldog intercollegiate athletics program and possibly include student-athletes, student managers, student coaches and/or student athletic trainers in addition to current athletics department personnel.
Denis, who previously received Ferris State's 2013-14 Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the leadership he displayed during his season off the ice, becomes the seventh-ever winner of the Jimmy Swears Courage Award and the third men's ice hockey representative to earn the recognition in the eight years in which the award has been bestowed.
The other nominees for this year's honor included former men's basketball player and student assistant coach Raymoan McAfee, women's basketball guard Dena Droste, football defensive back Damonta Madden and Olga Martinsone of the women's tennis program.
Jimmy Swears Courage Award Recipients
2014-15 - Simon Denis (Men's Ice Hockey)
2013-14 - Will Huntington (Men's Tennis)
2012-13 - Kylie Muntz (Women's Basketball)
2011-12 - Kylie Muntz (Women's Basketball)
2010-11 - Natalie Diorio (Women's Tennis)
2009-10 - Richard Weisenberger (Men's Golf)
2008-09 - Aaron Lewicki (Men's Ice Hockey)
2007-08 - No recipient
2006-07 - Mark Bomersback (Men's Ice Hockey)