Feb 8, 2010 9:10:04 AM

John Dunham, a recently retired ice hockey coach at Trinity (Connecticut), has been honored by the American Hockey Coaches Association for his commitment to amateur hockey and youth programs.

Dunham, who retired in 2008, is this year's recipient of the AHCA's John MacInnes Award.

The award has been presented annually since 1982 and honors recipients who "have helped young men grow not only as hockey players but, more importantly, as men." It is named for a Michigan Tech coach who served from 1957 to 1982.

Dunham, who coached club and then varsity men's ice hockey at Trinity for 37 years, is the sixth recipient who has spent at least a portion of his career in a current Division III men's ice hockey program. The award will be presented during the AHCA Convention April 29-May 2 in Naples, Florida.

Dunham began his coaching tenure in 1970s with Trinity's club team, which achieved varsity status in 1974. Those varsity teams compiled a 441-306-34 record through 33 seasons, appearing twice in the Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship. His teams also won four Eastern College Athletic Conference North/South titles during the 1980s and a New England Small College Athletic Conference crown in 2003.

He ranks 10th all-time among Division III coaches in victories and 26th among coaches in all divisions.

"Coach Dunham not only achieved a tremendous level of success on the ice, but played the pivotal role in making the exemplary Trinity ice hockey programs what they are today," said Richard Hazelton, Trinity athletics director. "He was officially a part-time coach, but he gave more than a full-time effort to our teams for 37 years."