ECAC Men's West Announces Major Awards, All-Conference Honorees
DANBURY, Conn. - The ECAC Men's West Hockey League has announced the major award winners and all-conference selections for the 2016-17 season.
Nazareth College senior Dominik Gabaj took home the award for Player of the Year, while Hobart College's Carl Belizario was voted the Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman Cole Hepler of Lebanon Valley College earned the accolade for Rookie of the Year, with Manhattanville College Head Coach Arlen Marshall garnering Coach of the Year to cap the major awards.
Bolstered by a first-place finish during the regular season, Utica College placed a league-best five players on the league's all-conference rosters. Four from Manhattanville College graced the all-conference selections, while Neumann University and Nazareth each had three student-athletes earn accolades. Hobart and Lebanon Valley both saw two skaters receive all-conference recognition, and Stevenson University had one all-conference honoree.
Additionally, Utica, Lebanon Valley and Elmira College all had two student-athletes named to the ECAC Men's West All-Rookie Team
Gabaj earns the award for Player of the Year after leading the league in scoring in conference play. The Slovakian forward collected 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points against league foes, and also recorded three game-winning goals in ECAC Men's West action, most in the league. Overall, Gabaj finished the regular season with 27 points (18 goals, nine assists), setting new career-highs in goals and points in the process. Gabaj was named the league's player of the week on two occasions this year.
Belizario served as a lynchpin on defense for the Statesmen in 2016-17. The senior helped his side post the league's stingiest defense during the regular season, as Hobart allowed just 60 goals in 25 regular-season outings. The blue-liner chipped in offensively as well, compiling 13 points overall (four goals, nine assists) with three goals and seven assists coming in league action.
Hepler's Rookie of the Year honor comes after the freshman led his team in goals (16) and points (32) during the regular season. The forward saved some of his best work for league action, tallying 11 and setting up nine more for 20 points in 14 conference contests, just one behind the league's leading scorer in conference play. Hepler also led all ECAC Men's West skaters with five power-play goals in league action.
Marshall led the Valiants to a 14-10-1 overall mark and a 10-4-1 ledger against conference opponents in 2016-17. In his fifth year at the helm, Manhattanville rattled of wins in six of its final eight league games to earn the second seed and a first-round bye in the ECAC Men's West Tournament. Additionally, the Valiants' 10 wins against league foes represent the most they have accrued in a season during Marshall's tenure.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dominik Gabaj - Sr., Forward, Nazareth College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carl Belizario - Sr., Defense, Hobart College
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Cole Hepler - Fr., Forward, Lebanon Valley College
COACH OF THE YEAR
Arlen Marshall - Manhattanville College
2017 ECAC Men's West All-Conference First Team
F: Jory Mullin - Sr., Neumann University
F: Roman Ammirato - Jr., Utica College
F: Dominik Gabaj - Sr., Nazareth College
D: Carl Belizario - Sr., Hobart College
D: Tanner Hicks - Sr., Manhattanville College
G: Patrik Virtanen - Fr., Utica College
2017 ECAC Men's West All-Conference Second Team
F: Nick Bingaman - Sr., Hobart College
F: Matt Lippa - So., Manhattanville College
F: Adam Platt - Sr., Manhattanville College
D: Vinny Stefan - Jr., Utica College
D: Brad Nolan - So., Lebanon Valley College
G: Tyler Feaver - So., Manhattanville College
2017 ECAC Men's West All-Conference Honorable Mention*
F: Cole Hepler - Fr., Lebanon Valley College
F: Mike Davis - Jr., Stevenson University
F: Oliver Janzen - Jr., Nazareth College
F: Anthony McVeigh - Jr., Utica College
D: Kevin Kirisits - Sr., Utica College
D: J.R. Wojciechowski - So., Nazareth College
D: Jake Davidson - Jr., Neumann University
G: Anthony Pupplo - Fr., Neumann University
2017 ECAC Men's West All-Rookie Team
F: Cole Hepler - Lebanon Valley College
F: Jarrod Fitzpatrick - Utica College
F: Matthew Cuce - Elmira College
D: Harry Kramer - Elmira College
D: Mike Straub - Lebanon Valley College
G: Patrik Virtanen - Utica College
*Additional players added due to ties
The 2017 ECAC Men's West Tournament will conclude on Saturday when Utica hosts Hobart for the league championship. Face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. For more information about the 2017 ECAC Men's West Tournament,
click here.
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