Bantam Hockey's Nolan Rossi Snags 2010-11 Tommy Bryson Award

For over two decades of Sundays during hockey season there's a fraternity of former players huffing and puffing on the ice at the Charlestown Rink. For that one special hour each week they're reliving their youth.

This fraternity of players (known as 'the alumni') are from different age groups and a wide range of professions, but they share one common goal and one common bond: they're all from the same family, the Charlestown Youth Hockey Association. Each player grew up in the CYHA program and played in high school, with many going on to play in college and even a few who've since played professionally.

The other bond that exists is that each player is giving back to youth hockey... in spades. Whether in Charlestown or another community eastern Massachusetts community, there isn't a rink around where you won't find a former CYHA member  on the bench coaching and/or teaching youth hockey players in the communities where they now reside. At home here in Charlestown, they also  give back financially, which has allowed many to play that might not have otherwise been able. This is where Tommy Bryson stood tall and made his biggest 'save'...

Each year at the end of the season, Tommy always broke the house rule which states that 'everyone pays except goalies.' Goalies always skated free in exchange for receiving errant slap-shots off the head, breakaways, dekes and fun-loving abuse that'd made any goalie look foolish. In exchange for said abuse, forwards and defensemen covered the weekly fees to skate each week for expenses associated to ice costs, and the season ending “break-up” party,  (a story in itself for another day). The remaining funds were then donated to the Charlestown Youth Hockey program.

Tommy Bryson, however, was always more than generous and his financial contributions exceeded the bumps, welts and bruises he received every Sunday morning. Quietly and without fanfare, Tommy would make his ample annual  donation to help a program so near and dear to his heart.

 Tommy Bryson was a very important member of our beloved fraternity. Unfortunately, he passed away 10 years ago playing the sport he loved. In his loving memory, each year the alumni award a scholarship to a deserving goalie in the CYHA who exemplifies the many wonderful qualities and inner drive to succeed that we miss dearly in our friend. Each recipient receives a replica of the Tommy Bryson Award and their name is added to the trophy on display at the rink. All scholarship winners receive tuition assistance as well as scholarship to a local goalie camp for one week during the summer.

A new member of our fraternity who recently moved to Charlestown is associated with a local goalie school and graciously donated the scholarship in Tommy Bryson’s name. Past winners of the award are Jenelle Tucker, Michael Newhall, Sean O’Halloran, Pat Owens, John Richard, Brennan Carrier and Isiah Emma.

As we remember on this, the 10^th anniversary of Tommy's passing, the CYHA is proud to announce Nolan Rossi of the Bantam hockey team as this year’s recipient of the Tommy Bryson Award for the 2010/11 season. 

Every Sunday at noon when the sun peaks through the old barn on Union Street, Tommy Bryson is looking down upon his many friends who keep his memory alive!

 Many congratulations to Nolan Rossi and, of course, thank you Tommy Bryson.

This congratulatory letter was submitted to Patch by Al Carrier, CYHA Board Member.