Just three months after winning the Stanley Cup, former Union men's hockey star Shayne Gostisbehere ‘15 will collect some more hardware: the Eliphalet Nott Medal.
President Elizabeth Kiss will present Gostisbehere with the medal at the College’s annual Convocation, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in Memorial Chapel.
Shayne Gostisbehere earned his place in Union hockey lore when he helped lead the College to the 2014 Division 1 men’s ice hockey championship over Minnesota, 7-4. Gostisbehere earned a +7 on-ice rating in the title game, and was named the Frozen Four's Most Valuable Player.
Established in 1995, the medal is awarded to alumni who have achieved outstanding success in their professional fields. The medal is named for Eliphalet Nott, president of Union from 1804 to 1866, the longest tenure of any American college president.
“We are excited to welcome Shayne and his wife, Gina ’16, back to campus,” said Kiss. “Shayne has achieved tremendous success in his hockey career both during and after Union, and we are proud to honor him in a special way. His visit will create a terrific buzz on campus as we begin the new academic year.”
Gostisbehere earned his place in Union hockey lore when he helped lead the College to the 2014 Division 1 men’s ice hockey national championship over Minnesota, 7-4. Gostisbehere was named the Frozen Four's Most Valuable Player in the tournament.
During his three years at Union, he recorded 82 points with 22 goals and 60 assists in 119 games. He was honored as a Hobey Baker finalist in 2013-14 and was a two-time American Hockey Coaches Association All-American at Union.
Gostisbehere is the first Union hockey player to win a Stanley Cup. He’s only the 35th player in NHL history to win both a Stanley Cup and an NCAA Championship. He also helped Team USA earn the gold medal in a 3-1 win over Sweden at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia in 2013.
“Receiving the Eliphalet Nott Medal is an incredible honor,” Gostisbehere said. “Looking back, I’m grateful for the people who helped me grow both as a student-athlete and as an individual. To be recognized by a place that played such an important role in my journey means a lot to me, and I’ll always be proud to be a part of Union College.”
Gostisbehere was selected in the third round of the 2012 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. He finished as the runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the National Hockey League's (NHL) top rookie in 2015-16. He also set an NHL rookie defenseman record with a 15-game point streak.
In 2016, he was honored as the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSWA) Pro Athlete of the Year.
Besides the Flyers, Gostisbehere has also played for the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth), Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes.
In June, Shayne Gostisbehere and his Carolina Hurricanes teammates won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. (Photo courtesy of Carolina Hurricanes)
In June, Gostisbehere and his Hurricanes teammates won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. During the playoffs, he scored 12 points on three goals and nine assists, giving him the second-most points by a defenseman in a single postseason in Carolina's franchise history.
At Convocation, the Union community celebrates the official start of the academic year. In addition to the Nott Medal, the event will feature the presentation of the Stillman Prizes for Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Research, the Music Department Convocation Prize and the UNITAS Community Building Award.
The ceremony will be live streamed.
Fall term classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 9.