WAKEFIELD, Mass. - Mark Divver has been named the recipient of the prestigious Joe Concannon Award, Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna announced today from the league's annual media day at TD Garden.

"Mark has been a solid contributor to our college hockey culture and this honor is well-deserved," said Bertagna. "The conference — and all of college hockey — has enjoyed the benefits of Mark's long and distinguished career. I am glad he will be reaching a new audience with his USCHO and NHL.com assignments."

A Rhode Island native, Divver grew up a passionate hockey fan, routing for his hometown Providence Reds of the AHL while attending Providence College Friars and Brown University Bears games. Upon graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Divver began his journalism career with newspapers around Connecticut and on Cape Cod before joining the Providence Journal in 1988 where he would remain for 31 years.

Divver worked as a ProJo news editor for several years before moving to the sports department as an assistant sports editor. It was during this time that Divver became the lead hockey writer for the Providence Journal in addition to his former duties.

Over the last 10 years, Divver has served the Rhode Island community as the preeminent hockey writer in the area, covering all levels of hockey including the Providence Bruins and Providence College Friars, including each of the Friars NCAA Tournament appearances and 2015 National Championship season.

After leaving the ProJo after the completion of the 2018-19 season, Divver will continue his writing for U.S. College Hockey Online and NHL.com.

ABOUT THE JOE CONCANNON HOCKEY EAST MEDIA AWARD: The prestigious honor, named in 2001 in memory of beloved Boston Globe sportswriter Joe Concannon, is bestowed annually upon an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding body of work in covering and promoting the interests of the Hockey East Association.