MARSHFIELD, Mass. â The New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) announced the recipients of the league’s major award winners, All-Conference and All-Rookie Teams as selected by the league’s ten head coaches on Thursday afternoon. Amongst the representatives are three Elmira College players; including Chance Gorman ’24 (Second Team), Chris Janzen ’21 (Third Team), and Janis Vizbelis ’24 (Third Team)
Â
In 23 games played this season, Gorman ranked 5th in the NEHC overall in points (28) while ranking 9th in the conference in goals with 12. Additionally, the sophomore ranked 10th in assists this season in the NEHC with 11 overall on the season.
Â
Vizbelis, who played in 24 games for the Soaring Eagles this season finished the year 8th overall in points (26). The sophomore out of Riga, Latvia scored 13 goals on the season, good for 7th in the New England Hockey Conference. His four power-play goals this season ranked 9th amongst conference members.
Â
Janzen finishes his regular-season career after tallying the 4th best goals against average in the NEHC at 2.34. Additionally, his 1027 minutes rank 3rd in the conference while making 463 saves in net; good for 5th overall in the NEHC.
Â
Ryan Black (Pomfret, Conn.) was named NEHC Player of the Year after posting 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points to pace Babson College. He also registered a +18 plus/minus rating and notched six game-winning goals in league play. His 33 overall points also ranks him 13th nationally in all of Division III men’s ice hockey.
Â
Norwich University’s Drennen Atherton (Winter Haven, Fla.) earned NEHC Goaltender of the Year after leading the NEHC in goals against average (1.78) and save percentage (.933%). The senior netminder also ranks 11th in the country in both goals against average (1.79) and save percentage (.935%). He’s posted a 7-2-5 overall record between the pipes for the Cadets while also recording a shutout on the season.
Â
Luke Aquaro (Yardley, Pa.) of Hobart College was selected as NEHC Rookie of the Year after posting 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in league play. His 22 points in 16 league games led all rookies, averaging 1.38 points per game. The first year forward added three power play goals and recorded a +14 plus/minus rating in his rookie campaign.
Â
Hobart Statesmen Head Coach Mark Taylor was voted NEHC Coach of the Year by his peers after guiding the program to a 13-2-2 record in league and number one seed heading into the NEHC postseason. Overall, the Statesmen are 18-4-2 and lead the NEHC in goals per game (5.18), goals (88), and assists (157).
Â
Joining Atherton from Norwich on first team is fellow cadet teammate Devon Becker (Langley, B.C.). Becker anchored a Norwich blue line that surrendered only 40 goals in league play and averaged 2.17 goals against average, both league bests. His 18 points (1 goal, 17 assists) ranks top amongst NEHC defenders.
Â
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Forward         Ryan Black, Babson College
Forward         Chris Peters, University of Massachusetts Boston
Forward         Alex LaPlante, New England College
Defense          Blake Coffey, Hobart College
Defense          Devon Becker, Norwich University
Goaltender     Drennen Atherton, Norwich University
Â
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Forward         Mike Egan, Babson College
Forward         Aaron Maguyon, Hobart College
Forward         Chance Gorman, Elmira College
Defense          John Corrigan, Babson College
Defense          Austin Mourar, Hobart College
Goaltender     Sam Best, University of Massachusetts Boston
Â
THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Forward         Ethan Nitkin, University of Massachusetts
Boston            Forward Clark Kerner, Norwich University
Forward         Austin Rook, Skidmore College
Forward         Janis Vizbelis, Elmira College
Defense          Reid Russell, Skidmore College
Defense          Nolan Barrett, University of Massachusetts Boston
Goaltender     Chris Janzen, Elmira College
Â
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Forward         Luke Aquaro, Hobart College
Forward         Clark Kerner, Norwich University
Forward         Thomas Kramer, Babson College
Defense          Reid Lindsay, Hobart College
Defense          Will Dow-Kenny, Skidmore College
Â
Â