YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The USHL continued announcing its individual awards from the 2023-24 season Wednesday afternoon with the Curt Hammer Award, presenting the award to Youngstown forward Ryan Botterill.
Botterill finished the season with a team-leading 29 goals and 55 points over 57 games, while also making a difference in the community.
The Portage, Manitoba, native is committed to the University of Wisconsin.
“Ryan Botterill embodies what we want our Phantom players to be,” Youngstown Head Coach Ryan Ward said. “On the ice, Ryan is a tireless worker who makes his teammates better. He came in as a first-year player and has led our team in scoring, which is no easy feat in this league.
“Off the ice, Ryan has connected with our fans and is always the first to volunteer in the community, which is what we are all about. We want the Phantoms, the city of Youngstown, and the greater Mahoning Valley to be intricately connected. Ryan spends his summer working alongside children with special needs and clearly puts others above himself, all while excelling as a student-athlete. It has been a pleasure to coach Ryan, and I cannot wait to see him go on and live his dreams.”
In addition to that work in the summer, Botterill spent part of his Christmas break as a kettle bell ringer for the Salvation Army in Manitoba.
He’s also been involved in schools as a positive role model for “at risk” youth and has volunteered as a special needs buddy at PCI-Life Skills High School in Manitoba.
Botterill is the second player in Youngstown’s franchise history to win the award, joining Mike Ambrosia (2012).
The Curt Hammer Award has been presented annually since the 1988–89 season to a player who distinguishes himself both on and off the ice throughout the course of the season by demonstrating outstanding performance, leadership, pride and determination.