SUNYAC announces 2018-19 awards for men's ice hockey
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men's ice hockey awards for the 2018-19 season have been voted on by the conference coaches. The honors are the Herb Hammond Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and the SUNYAC all-conference teams.
Herb Hammond Player of the Year - Conlan Keenan, Geneseo
Conlan Keenan was a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end for Geneseo, and a major reason why the Knights led the entire SUNYAC in goals (123). The junior scored 21 goals while accumulating 44 points during the regular season, both top marks among all individual players within the conference. He also led all SUNYAC players with a +/- of 30. Besides establishing himself as one of the premier players in SUNYAC men's ice hockey, Keenan's 2018-19 campaign was one of the best among all players in Division III men's ice hockey. He was fourth in Division III in goals, while leading the nation in points. Following his third season with Geneseo, Keenan is among the top 15 all-time leaders in goals in school history, with 62. Keenan was honored as the SUNYAC Men's Ice Hockey Player of the Week three times over the course of the season.
Defensive Player of the Year - Devin Campbell, Oswego
Devin Campbell was an integral part of an Oswego defense that allowed the second-fewest goals among all SUNYAC teams during the regular season (48), enabling the nationally-ranked Lakers to finish the regular season with an 18-5-2 record. The senior blocked 11 shots, helping the Lakers to keep opposing teams' offenses at bay. The Laker was also tied for seventh among all conference skaters with a +/- of 17. While the numbers are impressive, Campbell's importance to his team goes beyond the stat sheet. Oswego men's ice hockey head coach Ed Gosek says Campbell, the team's captain, leads by example through his hard work in the classroom, the weight room, on the rink, and through community service.
Goaltender of the Year - Devin McDonald, Geneseo
Devin McDonald's senior season was phenomenal, and an instrumental part of a nationally-ranked Geneseo team that finished the regular season with a 22-1-2 record. McDonald led a defensive effort that frustrated many opposing teams during the campaign, seldom allowing the puck to go between the goal posts. His defensive prowess allowed him to boast an incredible 1.00 GAA and .951% save percentage in the regular season, each top marks among all SUNYAC goaltenders. Those numbers also led all Division III goaltenders in men's ice hockey during the 2018-19 season. McDonald also finished with 449 saves during the regular season, bringing his career total up to 2,243, which places him among the top five all-time saves leaders in Geneseo men's ice hockey. The goaltender currently maintains the highest career save percentage (.922) in school history. McDonald was recognized by the SUNYAC as the Men's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week five times this year.
Rookie of the Year - Andrew Husted, Buffalo State
Andrew Husted's impressive rookie campaign was a major factor in helping Buffalo State make its ninth-consecutive appearance in the SUNYAC tournament. During the regular season, Husted scored nine goals, all which came during games against conference opponents. That figure puts him in a tie for tenth place for most goals scored this season among all individual conference players. Additionally, the rookie added nine assists, while tallying 18 points, helping bolster a Buffalo State team that finished third in the conference in goals (77). The freshman's efforts earned him multiple accolades over the course of the season. He won SUNYAC Rookie of the Week honors twice, and was also once recognized as the SUNYAC Player of the Week.
