BEVERLY, Mass. – For the first time in program history, both the Endicott men's and women's ice hockey programs have finished ranked in each of the USCHO.com and D3hockey.com Year-End Polls. The men's program was ranked No. 6 overall in both polls, while the women were tabbed No. 8 via D3hockey.com and No. 10 (tied) by USCHO.com.
WOMEN'S 2016-17 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS (22-4-1 overall | 11-1-0 CHC)
The Endicott women's ice hockey program captured their first-ever Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) regular season title before playing in its second straight conference championship game. Unfortunately, Endicott fell to Morrisville State, 3-1, at home in the CHC championship game. The Gulls finished the year national ranked in the following categories: No. 11 scoring offense (3.00 g/gm), No. 4 scoring defense (1.22 g/gm), No. 8 scoring margin (1.78), No. 1 fewest penalty minutes (5.5 pim/g), No. 18 power play (18.6%), No. 1 penalty kill (95.8%, 68/71), No. 46 combined special teams (46.0%, 92/200), and No. 4 team winning percentage (.833, 22-4-1).
Endicott also saw Andy McPhee earn CHC Coach of the Year honors along with Ellen Carter (Roseville, Minn.), Lexi Klein (Shoreview, Minn.), Vendela Jonsson (Linkoping, Sweden), Maggie Layo (Sandwich, Mass.), and Jade Meier (Fairbanks, Alaska) claim All-Conference accolades. Meier also joined Nicole Demers (Avon, Conn.) and Jillian Gibbs (Burlington, Vt.) on the CHC All-Rookie Team as well.
MEN'S 2016-17 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS (24-4-2 overall | 14-3-1 CCC)
The Endicott men's ice hockey team won the inaugural Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) regular season title and tournament championship en route to the Gulls first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Endicott defeated the University of New England (UNE), 5-4, in the CCC Championship at home on Saturday, March 4 to earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA's. After beating UNE, the Gulls topped No. 4/5 nationally ranked Hobart by a 4-3 score on the road in Geneva, N.Y. on Saturday, March 11. Endicott then fell to eventual NCAA Tournament runner-up Trinity (Conn.), 2-1, in double overtime on Saturday, March 18.
Endicott's record-setting season came to a close at 24-4-2 overall, which established a program record for single-season wins, and the longest run in postseason history not only for the program, but also for the CCC. National rankings wise the Gulls finished tops in the country among the following categories: No. 1 scoring offense (4.83 g/gm), No. 6 scoring defense (1.97 g/gm), No. 1 scoring margin (2.87), No. 3 power play (28.1%, 43/153), No. 12 penalty kill (86.5%, 147/170), No. 2 combined special teams (58.8%, 190/323), and No. 2 team winning percentage (.833, 24-4-2).
Individually, R.J. Tolan received CCC Coach of the Year honors while Kevin Aldridge (Birmingham, Mich.) was named the CCC Goaltender of the Year. Aldridge also joined Tommy Besinger (Milton, Mass.) and Logan Day (Seminole, Fla.) on the CCC First Team, while Cam Bleck (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Ross Olsson (Billerica, Mass.) were tabbed to the CCC Second Team.
Day also went on to claim American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)/CCM All-America East Second Team honors, while Besinger was named an All-America East Third Team selection. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.