Minnesota-Duluth’s Schmidt earns Unsung Hero Award

Minnesota-Duluth’s Kyle Schmidt has been named the 2011 winner of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award.

The award was given Friday, the day before Schmidt scored the overtime winner for the Bulldogs in the national championship game.

Schmidt, a senior forward, is the fifth winner of the award, named for the former Army player who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in September 2005.

Merrimack senior forward Chris Barton, Rensselaer senior defenseman John Kennedy, Alaska senior defenseman Bryant Molle and Niagara senior forward David Ross were also nominated by their conferences.

Schmidt finished his senior season with 11 goals and 22 points after scoring in both games of the Frozen Four.

Off the ice, he has volunteered at youth hockey practices and by reading to students at elementary schools. The Hermantown, Minn., native also has volunteered at American Cancer Association events while at Minnesota-Duluth.