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NEWS RELEASE
DENVER -- (Thursday, October 24, 1996) Colorado Rapids Owner/Operator Philip F. Anschutz and President Robert J. Sanderman last night handed out several team awards commemorating the inaugural season for Denver's Major League Soccer representative.
The Colorado Rapids' honorees are as follows:
| AWARD | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| Honda Most Valuable Player Award | Chris Henderson, Midfielder |
| Bic Tough Defensive Player Award | Denis Hamlett, Defender |
| Budweiser Scoring Champ Award | Jean Harbor, Forward |
| Rookie of the Year Award | Sean Henderson, Midfielder |
| President's Cup Award | Steve Trittschuh, Midfielder |
| Anschutz Honor Award | Roy Wegerle, Forward |
Midfielder Chris Henderson, who finished the 1996 season with three goals and a team-high eight assists, many of them in spectacular fashion, captured the Honda MVP Award, as voted by the media. A two-year standout at UCLA (where he won the 1990 NCAA Championship) and owner of 73 international appearances for the U.S. National Team, Henderson enjoyed the awards ceremony with his brother, Sean, who earned Rookie of the Year honors. Sean, the younger Henderson, scored a goal in his first ever MLS start. To qualify for the team's Rookie of the Year Award, you must have played less than one full season in outdoor or indoor professional soccer.
Denis Hamlett, who appeared in all but one of the Rapids' 32 MLS matches and struck fear in the hearts of opposing forwards, was named the recipient of the Bic Tough Defensive Player Award. The six-foot, 200-lb. defender known by most as 'The Hammer," was considered one of the most tenacious defenders in the league.
Rapids forward Jean Harbor, the team's first-ever draft pick, took home the Budweiser Scoring Champ Award. Harbor, who still ranks as American professional soccer's all-time leading goalscorer, led the Rapids in scoring with 11 goals and four assists.
Colorado captain Steve Trittschuh, a gritty midfielder and defender who was one of only two MLS players to play all 2,880 minutes of the MLS season, scoring five goals and adding two assists, won the President's Cup Award, recognizing the dedication, leadership and work ethic on and off the field. Trittschuh, who has more than 40 appearances for the U.S. National Team, played the last 15 games for the Rapids with a broken toe.
The Anschutz Honor Award was bestowed upon Roy Wegerie, the organization's first-ever player. Wegerle, the sole MLS player to have played in the now-defunct North American Soccer League, battled through several injuries over the course of the year to notch two goals and seven assists, tying him for second on the team. Wegerle, regarded as one of the most creative players to ever wear a U.S. National Team jersey, assumed the head-coaching reins of the Rapids late in the season, won his first-ever match as coach in the U.S. Open Cup and was commended by Mr. Anschutz for his willingness to assert himself in a leadership role.