BEVERLY, Mass. – Seven members of the No. 9 nationally ranked Endicott women's ice hockey program earned Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) postseason honors, while Head Coach Andy McPhee was named the CHC Coach of the Year, as announced by the league office earlier today.
Ellen Carter (Roseville, Minn.), Vendela Jonsson (Linkoping, Sweden), and Lexi Klein (Shoreview, Minn.) were tabbed to the CHC All-Conference second team, while Maggie Layo (Sandwich, Mass.) and Jade Meier (Fairbanks, Alaska) garnered third team accolades. Meier also joined Jillian Gibbs (Burlington, Vt.) and Nicole Demers (Avon, Conn.) on the CHC All-Rookie Team to round out the list of honors for the Gulls.
CHC ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Carter's play on Endicott's number one defensive line has been instrumental in the Gulls' ranking at the top of all defensive metrics in the conference including goals against (28), goals against average (1.11), and penalty kill (97.0%). Endicott's scoring defense (1.12 g/gm) also ranks No. 2 among all NCAA Division III programs, while the Gulls' penalty kill is tops in the country (65-67). Individually speaking, Carter registered four goals and seven assists in 25 games played and leads the team in blocked shots with 38.
Jonsson currently ranks No. 7 in the country in goals against average (1.23), No. 6 in save percentage (.952) and winning percentage (.853), and No. 5 in shutouts (6). Among conference goaltenders, Jonsson is second in goals against (21), first in goals against average, second in save percentage and wins, and seventh in saves (419).
Klein has compiled 19 points on seven goals and 12 assists this season for the Gulls in 25 games played. She currently ranks first in games played among the conference, 10th in points, 18th in goals, and fifth in assists.
CHC ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
In 25 games played this year, Layo has registered 17 points on 12 goals and five assists. Layo is 15th in the conference in points, fourth in goals, and 44th in assists. Her three game-winning tallies also ranks fourth in the league.
Meanwhile, Meier has produced 18 points on eight goals and 10 assists in 25 games played for the Gulls. Among the conference leaders, Meier is 11th in points, 14th in goals, and 15th in assists.
CHC ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Much like Meier, Gibbs has made an immediate impact on the Gulls in her first season with the program as the freshman forward has notched 12 goals and six assists for 18 points. Gibbs currently ranks 11th in the conference in points, fourth in goals, and 30th in assists. Her five game-winning goals also stands as the number two total so far in the league headed into the playoffs.
Nationally, both Meier and Gibbs rank tied for No. 15 in the country in points per game for freshmen (0.72).
Concluding the list of honorees for Endicott is Demers who has collected 12 points on one goal and 11 assists. Demers also has blocked 23 shots (second best on the team), and aided the team to their national prominence on the penalty kill.
WHAT'S NEXT
No. 9 nationally ranked Endicott (21-3-1) will play the lowest remaining seed in the CHC Tournament semifinals on March 4 at 12:30 PM at Raymond J. Bourque Arena. As the No. 1 seed in the CHC Tournament, Endicott will host both the semifinals and championship game (March 5) in Beverly, Mass. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.