The Rookie of the Year Award is awarded to the outstanding male and female student-athletes who utilize their first year of eligibility as a member of an Augustana Varsity team and exhibit tremendous athletic accomplishment in the current year. Leadership, character and academics are also considered in the selection of the Rookie of the Year Awards.

Joseph Tambasco was an integral part of Vikings Hockey this season, playing in all 38 league, exhibition, and playoff games where he helped the team to an overall record of 23 – 12 – and 3. Joe helped to quarterback the Vikings Power Play and he scored 2 goals and added 9 assists for 11 points in ACAC league play, which placed him 15th overall in defenceman scoring and 3rd overall in 1st year defenceman scoring. Joe's prowess though, was his passionate compete level as a "defence – first" player where he was heavily relied upon in the defensive zone and on the Penalty Kill. He finished the year with a plus / minus rating of (+20) and he picked up only 14 penalty minutes on the season. As mentioned, Joe played a ton in every game, he never missed a Vikings Hockey practice, and he did this while maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

Congratulations Joe!

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