Other Awards

The RI Reds Heritage Society has established several awards to honor the heritage and achievements of Rhode Island’s past, current and future hockey stars.

In 2010, the Society established the RI Native-Born Hockey Achievement Award to honor native-born Rhode Islanders who have excelled in hockey and brought national prominence and pride to Rhode Island.

Later, the Society established the Frank E. McCaffrey Fan of the Year Award to honor those die-hard Reds supporters who backed the team year after year, through thick and thin. Our most recent award, the Ray Ross Perseverance Award, was established by the family of the former Reds great to recognize and applaud those whose persistence and tenacity to overcome difficult circumstances or events, no matter how hard, are a source of admiration and inspiration.

The Society and the RI Interscholastic League established the Unsung Hero Awards in 2011 and were presented annually though 2019. The awards recognized high school hockey players, in both the Girls & Boys Divisions, who contributed not only to their team’s success on the ice but, perhaps, more importantly to their respective communities “off” the ice. Six awards were presented each year, to a goalie, defensive player and offensive player in both divisions. The three categories are named in honor of former Reds greats Gil Mayer (goal), Fernie Flaman (defense) and Chuck Scherza (forward).

Native Born Hockey Achievement Award

2022: Brian Boucher, Mount St Charles star, NHL record-setting goalie & TV color analyst

2019: Noel Acciari, Bishop Hendricken and Providence College standout, NHL star

2018: Pete Demers, longtime NHL trainer for the Los Angeles Kings & NHL Hall of Famer

2017: Joe Cavanagh, Cranston East All-Stater, 3x NCAA All-American & US Hockey Hall of Famer

2016: Jack Ferreira, LaSalle All-Stater, NCAA All-American & hockey executive with 9 NHL teams

2015: Ralph Warburton, LaSalle Academy, Dartmouth College & USA Olympic hockey star
2015: Jack Capuano, NCAA All-American, NHL player & NHL coach

2014: Dick Ernst, Rhode Island high school coaching legend

2013: Don Mellor – Boston Olympics player & legendary RI youth hockey organizer
2013: Tom Mellor – Don’s son, NCAA All-American, USA Olympian, Detroit Red Wings

2012: Bill Belisle, legendary Mount St. Charles coach & US Hockey Hall of Famer

2011: Lou Lamoriello, PC star & coach, 3x Stanley Cup-winning GM & Hockey Hall of Famer

2010: Sara DeCosta, US Women’s “Player of the Year” & Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist

Joe Cavanagh

Noel Acciari

Sage Family Service Award

2022: Ray Morgan, longtime RI Hockey Tournaments & USA Hockey Camps Director

2022: Gerry Letourneau, Founder and Director of RI Special Hockey

2018: Brad Boss, RI business leader, & URI Hall of Famer

2017: Mark Divver, RI hockey journalist & Providence Journal hockey beat writer
2017: Nick Azzarone, Heritage Society Director

2016: David Belisle, Rhode Island & Mount St Charles high school hockey coach
2016: Sean Lavoine, American Hockey League executive

2015: Nate Lehman, Providence College men’s hockey coach
2015: David Quinn, Boston University men’s hockey coach & NHL coach

2014: Monty Seli, the Heritage Society’s Canadian liaison
2014: Lorraine & Roger Gladu, Heritage Society Directors

2013: Ann Sage, Heritage Society supporter
2013: Reba Golden, Heritage Society Director

2011: Roger Gladu, Reds hockey historian & Heritage Society Director

2010: Bill Castro, former Reds front office executive
2010: Vin Cimini, former Reds PR Director & Hockey News correspondent

2009: Sage Family & the Chelo Family, Heritage Society supporters

2008: Bob Paquette, Mike Pappas & Rich Cappelli, Society supporters

2007: Aldo Guidolin, Ray Ross, Bob & Marge Robertson, and Bill Carey

Brad Boss

Ray Morgan

Frank E McCaffrey Fan of the Year Award

2019: Marge McKenney, wife of Reds & Bruins star Don McKenney and ardent supporter

2018: Helen Duffy, wife of former Reds PR Director, George Patrick Duffy
2018: Marielle Mayer, wife of former Reds goaltender, Gil Mayer
2018: Shirley Toppazzini, wife of Reds “Player of the Century”, Zellio Toppazzini

2017: Len Tessier, longtime fan and Heritage Society Director

2016: “Lincoln Larry” D’Alfonso, sharp-tongued fixture behind the visitors’ bench

2015: Ida “Mom” Reniere, who took in Reds players as boarders in the 1940s and ’50s

2014: Joe Gagliardi, fan whose devotion to the Reds dated back to the 1940s

2013: Jim Clegg, chronicler of virtually every hockey venue in the USA and Canada

2012: Bernadette “Chickey” Kurowski, Reds’ stalwart

Shirley Toppazzini

President’s Award

2019: Craig Cimini, graphic designer & digital artist for the Reds & RI Hockey Hall of Fame

2017: Bryan Berard, former Mount St Charles star & NHL Rookie of the Year

2016: Vin Cimini, RI Advertising Executive, Society Director & former Reds PR Director

2015: Mike Bailey, Reds Newsletter Designer, Writer & Webmaster

2012: Arnie Bailey, College administrator, Newspaper editor & Founding member of the Society

2010: Bill O’Connor, Mal Goldenberg, Tom McDonough & Mike Bailey – Society Directors

Craig Cimini

Directors’ Award

2012: Nick Azzarone, George Landes & Andy Mayer, Heritage Society Directors

2011: Arnie Bailey, Tom McDonough & Bob Spaziano, Heritage Society Directors

2010: Jim Clegg, Nick Azzarone & Dick Bartlett, Heritage Society Directors

2009: Dick Reniere, former Heritage Society Director

2008: Bill O’Connor, Heritage Society Director & former educator

Nick Azzarone

Ray Ross Perseverance Award

2022: Joe Exter, Merrimack goalie, Penguins farmhand, and Minnesota Wild minor league coach

2019: Ross Brooks, Reds & Boston Bruins goalie, and former RI youth and high school coach

2018: Willie Marshall, AHL leader in games (1,205), goals (523), assists (852), & points (1,375)

Ross Brooks

Unsung Hero Awards

Class of 2019

Chuck Scherza Award, Men: Cameron Rancourt, Mt. Hope & Joseph Catarina, Smithfield
Chuck Scherza Award, Women: Madison Cataldo, Mount St. Charles Academy
Fernie Flaman Award, Men: Brendan O’Rourke, Chariho High School
Fernie Flaman Award, Women: Taylor Vecchione, LaSalle Academy
Gil Mayer Award, Women: Rebecca Yaseen, Toll Gate High School

Class of 2018

Chuck Scherza Award, Men: Nick Klassner, Rogers/Middletown/Rocky Hill Co-op
Chuck Scherza Award, Women: Sydney Nobrega, Smithfield High School
Fernie Flaman Award, Men: Tyler Piekarski, Smithfield High School
Fernie Flaman Award, Women: Samantha Ahaesy, LaSalle Academy
Gil Mayer Award, Men: Nicholas Bernardo, Barrington High School
Gil Mayer Award, Women: Shannon McCamish, Warwick Co-op

Class of 2017

Chuck Scherza Award, Men: Jim Varin, Smithfield High School
Chuck Scherza Award, Women: Erin Drum, Smithfield/Coventry
Fernie Flaman Award, Women: Kayla Gravel, Burrillville High School
Gil Mayer Award, Men: Sean Murphy, North Smithfield High School
Gil Mayer Award, Women: Mary Greenwell, Warwick Co-op & Liza Farnham, LSA/MB

Class of 2016

Chuck Scherza Award, Men: Zachary Librizzi, Saint Raphael Academy/PS
Chuck Scherza Award, Women: Brittney Bidwell, Cranston East/East Greenwich Co-op
Fernie Flaman Award, Men: David Gaulin, Smithfield High School
Fernie Flaman Award, Women: Brynne Costa, East Providence
Gil Mayer Award, Men: Colin Clegg, Barrington High School
Gil Mayer Award, Women: Victoria Hartley, LaSalle Academy

Class of 2014