Posted: Feb 24, 2011
FREDONIA – The State University of New York Athletic Conference has announced the Coach of the Year, Herb Hammond (Player) of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards for the 2010-11 men’s ice hockey season. The awards are voted on by the conference coaches.
The Player of the Year award is named after Herb Hammond who coached at SUNY Oswego (1969-1980) and Plattsburgh (1981-83). At Oswego he compiled a 176-122-5 mark and at Plattsburgh a 52-17-4 record. He was named the 1982 Division III Coach of the Year. He also coached at Division I Brown University from 1983-88. He left coaching to become a National Hockey League score for 11 seasons before his death in 2009.
The Player of the Year award is named after Herb Hammond who coached at SUNY Oswego (1969-1980) and Plattsburgh (1981-83). At Oswego he compiled a 176-122-5 mark and at Plattsburgh a 52-17-4 record. He was named the 1982 Division III Coach of the Year. He also coached at Division I Brown University from 1983-88. He left coaching to become a National Hockey League score for 11 seasons before his death in 2009.
The 2011 Herb Hammond award goes to Fredonia State senior Jordan Oye (Richmond, BC). Oye is a two time All-SUNYAC selection including first team honors this season. Oye scored 10 goals and had 11 assists in 16 SUNYAC regular-season games. Three of his goals were short-handed and two were game-winners. Overall, he ranked eighth in overall scoring in NCAA Division III with17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points prior to post-season competition. Oye lead the Blue Devils to a No. 6 seed in the conference tournament with a league record of 7-8-1. Fredonia defeated Buffalo State in the quarterfinals and will face No. 1 Oswego in the semifinals on Feb. 26.
Oye joins a distinguished list of former Blue Devil players who have earned this honor. Will Hamele (2003 and 2001), Gary Masocco (1995) and Jim Pinti (1994) are all previous Herb Hammond honorees who have donned the blue and white.
Oye joins a distinguished list of former Blue Devil players who have earned this honor. Will Hamele (2003 and 2001), Gary Masocco (1995) and Jim Pinti (1994) are all previous Herb Hammond honorees who have donned the blue and white.
Geneseo forward Zachary Vit (Villanova, PA) has been selected the Rookie of the year. Vit is the sixth Ice Knight to earn the honor and the first since current assistant coach Kris Heeres garnered the award in 2003. Other Geneseo rookies include Brett Walker (2002), Aaron Coleman (1998), Dave Tench (1989) and Terry Reilly (1985).
Vit has played in all 25 games this season and leads the Ice Knights with 35 points on 13 goals and 22 assists, ranking him fourth in the conference with 1.40 points per game. His 1.40 points per game leads the nation in rookie scoring and is 23rd overall. Vit has scored 14 of his points on the power play this season as Geneseo is effective 23.6 percent of the time. The Ice Knights earned a first round bye in the conference tournament and will host #4 Plattsburgh in the semifinals and Saturday, Feb. 26.
SUNY Geneseo head coach Chris Schultz has been named Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. In his fifth season, he had guided his team to a current 16-7-2 overall record and a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament with a league mark of 10-5-1. It is the highest regular season finish since Schultz’s first year in 2006-07. Schultz is the second Ice Knight coach to earn the honor as former coach Paul Duffy was recognized three times (1985, 1986, 1990).
