Hockey East Awards
By Fetch
Like last year, it was a bit of a two horse race between Boston College and New Hampshire this year. Unlike last year, I had a really tough time deciding who would be player of the year in the league. Paul Thompson, John Muse and Cam Atkinson have very legitimate claims to the honor, and it seems like a matter of personal preference.
Player of the year – Cam Atkinson, Boston College
I went back and forth between Atkinson and Muse for the longest time before finally settling on Atkinson. Although BC didn’t exactly suffer when he was helf off the scoresheet (they were 11-2 when he didn’t score goal and 6-1 when he didn’t have a point), Atkinson was at his best against good teams. He went 2-2–4 against Denver in October, and had 10 goals in 10 games against the 2-4th ranked teams in Hockey East, and on the final weekend he had a 3-1–4 mark to help BC to the Hockey East title.
Coach of the year – Mark Dennehy, Merrimack
Could it be anyone else? The Warriors finished 4th in Hockey East this year and the Senior class has more wins this year than in their Freshman and Sophomore years combined. Merrimack also has the inside track on an NCAA tournament spot.
Rookie of the year – Jamie Oleksiak, Northeastern
Both Adam Clendening and Charlie Coyle have legitimate claims to this award, but Oleksiak stepped in and legitimized a Northeastern defense that had finished 9th and allowed 87 goals in conference play last year. This year they finished 6th and allowed only 69 goals in conference. Oleksiak will also probably be a late first rounder in the NHL draft this summer.
1st team
F – Cam Atkinson, Boston College
F – Paul Thompson, New Hampshire
F – Gustav Nyquist, Maine
D – Brian Dumoulin, Boston College
D – Blake Kessel, New Hampshire
G – John Muse, Boston College
2nd team
F – Brian Gibbons, Boston College
F – Jesse Todd, Merrimack
F – Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack
D – Jamie Oleksiak, Northeastern
D – Adam Clendening, Boston U
G – Matt DiGirolamo, New Hampshire
3rd team
F – Brian Flynn, Maine
F – Wade MacLeod, Northeastern
F – Chris Barton, Merrimack
D – Drew MacKenzie, Vermont
D – Karl Stollery, Merrimack
G – Kieran Millan, Boston U
Like last year, it was a bit of a two horse race between Boston College and New Hampshire this year. Unlike last year, I had a really tough time deciding who would be player of the year in the league. Paul Thompson, John Muse and Cam Atkinson have very legitimate claims to the honor, and it seems like a matter of personal preference.
Player of the year – Cam Atkinson, Boston College
I went back and forth between Atkinson and Muse for the longest time before finally settling on Atkinson. Although BC didn’t exactly suffer when he was helf off the scoresheet (they were 11-2 when he didn’t score goal and 6-1 when he didn’t have a point), Atkinson was at his best against good teams. He went 2-2–4 against Denver in October, and had 10 goals in 10 games against the 2-4th ranked teams in Hockey East, and on the final weekend he had a 3-1–4 mark to help BC to the Hockey East title.
Coach of the year – Mark Dennehy, Merrimack
Could it be anyone else? The Warriors finished 4th in Hockey East this year and the Senior class has more wins this year than in their Freshman and Sophomore years combined. Merrimack also has the inside track on an NCAA tournament spot.
Rookie of the year – Jamie Oleksiak, Northeastern
Both Adam Clendening and Charlie Coyle have legitimate claims to this award, but Oleksiak stepped in and legitimized a Northeastern defense that had finished 9th and allowed 87 goals in conference play last year. This year they finished 6th and allowed only 69 goals in conference. Oleksiak will also probably be a late first rounder in the NHL draft this summer. (more…)