After a standout season, Greenfield’s MJ Paulin was honored for his efforts — both on and off the ice — last week.
The annual Bessone Awards — which honor high school hockey players in Western Massachusetts — were announced on Thursday by the Amo Bessone Awards Committee, and Paulin was one of 11 athletes selected for an award.
The Green Wave defenseman received the Harold Passerini Award for outstanding athletic, academic and community achievement. The award comes with a $500 scholarship.
“I was shocked when I heard I had won it,” Paulin said. “I’m very proud to have won this. In my 18 years on this planet I put my all into everything I do, from the ice to the classroom, in the community, so it was nice to be rewarded with this.”
Fellow Greenfield hockey players Kevin Baumann, Josh Bordeaux and Shane Prusak were also finalists for several awards handed out.
On the ice, Paulin was a force on the back end, helping lead the Green Wave to a Western Mass. Class B title. He finished the season with three goals and 11 assists.
He found out from his coach, Adam Bouchard, that he won the honor, and that he was also the first Greenfield player to ever capture the Harold Passerini Award.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Paulin said. “I was truly astonished I won this. I’m very grateful. It felt pretty perfect with how everything panned out. We won back-to-back Western Mass. tournaments, we made the state tournament which is a huge achievement and now this really is the cherry on top.”
It came as no surprise to Bouchard that Paulin had won this award.
“MJ has worked hard his entire high school career,” Bouchard said. “Not only on the ice, but even more importantly in the classroom and the hockey community. This embodies what Green Wave hockey is about — doing things the Green Wave way, good things will happen. The program is very proud of this accomplishment for MJ. It represents the entire program and shows that hard work and sacrifice matter.”
Outside the rink, Paulin is a near straight A student and a National Honor Society member. Through NHS, he’s helped out with Relay for Life, volunteered at nursing centers, helped with Big Brother, Big Sisters, and this year has been going to the Greenfield Middle School to help with the fifth grade teachers to work with students and explain how important school is.
Outside of NHS, Paulin works with the Learn to Skate program in Greenfield, helping teach young kids how to skate while serving as a role model.
“I’ve always tried my best in school and try to help out in the community,” Paulin said. “It’s nice to see that those efforts were reflected with this award.”
Paulin isn’t set on his plans for next year, but AIC is currently his top choice. He’s been in contact with the club hockey coach there and is hoping he can continue lacing up the skates in the future.
“I’m going to stay consistent through the summer and keep my skating up,” he said. “Hopefully I can get down there and make the team.”