Princeton University men’s hockey senior forward Kevin Anderson has been named the winner of the 2025-26 Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award as announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) on April 10 at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
The award was established by the HCA in honor of former Army player Derek Hines, who was a “consummate team player and team builder.” Hines played at Army from 1999-2003 and was a four-year letter winner as well as a co-captain his senior season. He was killed in the line of duty on September 1, 2005, in Afghanistan.
Anderson is the first Princeton player to be selected as the recipient of the honor and fifth ECAC Hockey player to be chosen since the award was first presented in 2007.
The HCA coordinates the award with nominations from the six Division I men’s hockey conferences. The selection committee votes on the winner “who displays exemplary sportsmanship, is supremely competitive, intelligent and extraordinarily conditioned with an unmatched work ethic.”
A four-year letter winner for the Tigers, Anderson, a 6’0, 190-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan, served as an alternate captain during the 2025-26 season. He finished his Princeton career with 87 games played, including appearances in 33 of Princeton’s 34 games during his senior campaign. Over his Tiger career, Anderson tallied 18 total points on seven goals and 11 assists. His high-water mark in points came during the 2024-25 season when he had nine points on five goals and four assists.
A gritty player, Anderson blocked 63 shots over the course of his career and he was 54 percent on faceoffs over his career winning 75-of-139 draws.
“There is not a player on our roster who cares more deeply about his team and teammates than Kevin Anderson,” said Princeton head coach Ben Syer in a statement on the Princeton Athletics website. “He leads by example — through preparation, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to doing whatever the team needs to win. His competitiveness is genuine and relentless, and he approaches every practice and game with extraordinary focus and intensity. He is a stabilizing presence in the locker room and a constant source of encouragement — not only for teammates but for our staff as well.”
Off the ice, Anderson has also distinguished himself as a leader.
“Kevin’s influence extends well beyond the rink with his meaningful impact in our local community,” added Syer. “He understands the responsibility that comes with representing our program and embraces the opportunity to give back. Kevin exemplifies the spirit of this honor in every way. His leadership, humility, work ethic, and selflessness define him, and our team and sport are better because of him.”
Anderson has been a central figure in the Tigers’ renewed commitment to community service stewarding his teammates into numerous servant leadership opportunities.
Since 2023, Anderson has been instrumental in the creation and cultivation of “Tiger Pals” a program pairing Princeton student-athletes with local children in need of mentorship. Anderson has been the lead mentor to a pair of brothers in the town of Princeton, scheduling visits to their school where they provide help with homework, share strategies for social growth, and coach them in hockey and other sports. In addition to the time spent after school, Anderson has hosted his “Tiger Pals” at Baker Rink regularly for skates, games and social gatherings with the Tigers.
This past year, Anderson has extended his involvement with the youths in the local Princeton community to a special relationship with Grayson Pohlman via Team IMPACT. Anderson helped coordinate the onboarding of the Princeton squad to Team IMPACT and facilitated Princeton’s match with Pohlman. Starting with a day-long tour of campus, Anderson has been there every step of the way as Pohlman has become a part of Princeton’s team, including the official “Signing Day” trips to Princeton sporting events, a starring role in Princeton Hockey’s Baker Bash event, and visits to the locker room at home this season.
Anderson has also found time to give back to the sport of hockey, serving as a coach and clinician with both Princeton Youth Hockey and the Notre Dame Hounds program he grew up with in Saskatchewan.
A three-time ECACH All-Academic Team selection, Anderson was named an American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Academic All-American in 2024. He has been chosen to serve on the Student-Athlete Advisory Councils for both Princeton Athletics and the ECAC, and he has previously served as executive director of communications for Princeton Moving & Storage which organizes storage and delivery of personal belongings for over 500 Princeton students each year.