Three Soaring Eagles Receive All-Conference Honors from New England Hockey Conference

MARSHFIELD, Mass. – 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)
 
In 23 games played this season, Gorman ranked 5^th in the NEHC overall in points (28) while ranking 9^th in the conference in goals with 12. Additionally, the sophomore ranked 10^th in assists this season in the NEHC with 11 overall on the season.
 
Vizbelis, who played in 24 games for the Soaring Eagles this season finished the year 8^th overall in points (26). The sophomore out of Riga, Latvia scored 13 goals on the season, good for 7^th in the New England Hockey Conference. His four power-play goals this season ranked 9^th amongst conference members.
 
Janzen finishes his regular-season career after tallying the 4^th best goals against average in the NEHC at 2.34. Additionally, his 1027 minutes rank 3^rd in the conference while making 463 saves in net; good for 5^th overall in the NEHC.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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