Cole Souto, a former Los Angeles Jr. King, was recognized with this year’s North American Hockey League (NAHL) Community Service Award as a member of the Bismarck Bobcats.

As co-captain of the NAHL club, Souto, 20, organized all of the Bobcats’ community service efforts – not only spending his own time in the community, but also encouraging a record turnout of teammates at charitable events during the 2015-16 season.

Souto, from Yorba Linda, spearheaded a number of community events, including Healthy Habits, where players visited hundreds of local school kids to speak on healthy lifestyles and to speak out against bullying, and Dreams in Motion, which helps local sled hockey players live out their hockey dreams.

He was also involved with the Salvation Army, where the Bobcats joined local volunteers to ring bells at Christmastime to raise money for the charity, and Brave the Shave, where nearly half the team shaved their heads to raise money and awareness to fight childhood cancer.

Souto also assisted with Sanford Hospital, where players visited local children in the hospital and spent time with them during their fights against cancer, and took part in many other one-day appearances at local events.

In this, his second season with the Bobcats, Souto struck for five goals for 17 points in 58 regular-season games. He was also a plus-22. Through four postseason contests, he’s tallied an assist and is a plus-2.