Men's ice hockey player Michael Westerman made the most of his time at Bowdoin College. And persevering from an injury-hampered rookie season to become the NESCAC’s top two-way defenseman has been just part of the journey.

A graduate of Ann Arbor (Mich.) High School, Westerman was a well-rounded student, excelling in athletics, academics and music. In addition to earning National Honors Society recognition, Westerman won the school’s Robert Pratt Choir Award. On the ice, Westerman laced up the skates for The Ann Arbor Midget Major Club and later for The Green Mountain Glades (EJHL) for one year, earning the team’s Lee Westin Spirit Award. When it came time to make a college decision, Westerman chose Bowdoin over other schools, including Yale- where his parents Ken and Cherry and sister Erica all attended- for the opportunity to explore his many interests. And that he has.

A member of the Bowdoin male a cappella group “The Longfellows”, Westerman stood out academically as well, earning a Faculty Scholar Award while double-majoring in Math and Physics with a minor in Economics. Twice he was named to the NESCAC’s All-Academic Team and he capped his collegiate career with a perfect 4.0 in the spring semester of his senior year.

A veteran of 81 career games for the Polar Bears, his senior hockey campaign was a culmination of four years of dedication. A defenseman, he led the team in scoring with 14 goals and 17 assists in 2007-08. His six power-play goals were tied for the team lead and he anchored a Bowdoin blue line that allowed 2.95 goals per game. For his career, Westerman finished with 70 points in 81 career games and was the first defenseman to lead Bowdoin in scoring since All-American Jean Roy in 1983-84.

Westerman raked in the postseason awards, earning All-NESCAC, All-New England and Second-Team All-American honors and was named as one of 16 finalists for the Joe Concannon Award, recognizing the top American-born Division II/III hockey player in New England.