St. Lawrence University head coach Joe Marsh was selected by his peers as the winner of the Spencer Penrose Award, given in recognition of college hockey’s University Division (Division I) national coach of the year.
This season Marsh compiled a 27-8-2 record, the third-best season in St. Lawrence history, leading the Saints to a Frozen Four appearance. The Saints lost to Boston College in the national semifinals in Providence.
The Saints captured both the regular-season and tournament championships in the ECAC, receiving a bye in the NCAA tournament. In the national quarterfinals, the Saints prevailed in the longest NCAA tournament game in history, a 3-2 four-overtime victory over Boston University.
Marsh also captured the Penrose Award in 1989. He has just completed his 15th season behind the Saint bench and has a career record of 285-203-28, on the verge of becoming the 41st coach in college hockey history to win 300 games.
The runner-up for the Penrose was Blaise MacDonald of Niagara University. MacDonald led the Purple Eagles to their first NCAA tournament in just the fourth season of Division I hockey at Niagara.
The Eddie Jeremiah Award, recognizing the top coach in the College Division (Division III) went to Mike McShane of Norwich for the second year in a row and the third time in four years.
McShane led the Cadets to the NCAA Division III national championship this season, compiling a 29-2-1 record and ending the season with a 23-game unbeaten streak. The championship was the first for Norwich in any sport.
Since taking over the Cadets five years ago, McShane has compiled a record of 102-35-7, and has amassed over 300 wins in his coaching career.
The AHCA also announced the winners of the Coaches of the Year in the women’s divisions.
The winner of this year’s Division I coach of the year is Judy Oberting of Dartmouth. Oberting guided the Big Green to a 21-12-0 record this season and an appearance in the AWCHA Women’s Championship, finishing third by winning the consolation game in Boston. She was also named the ECAC Coach of the Year while guiding the Big Green to their first-ever 20-win season.
In just her second season as the head of Dartmouth women’s hockey, Oberting has compiled a career record of 37-21-5.
At the Division III level, first-year Colgate head coach and the ECAC’s Division III Coach of the Year, Ted Wisner, won the award. A former assistant at St. Lawrence, Wisner was named the head coach at Colgate this past season and guided the Red Raiders to a second place ECAC Division III finish in the regular season and the tournament.
This season Wisner led his Red Raiders to a 21-4-0 overall record and a 16-1-0 mark in the ECAC. His only losses came to Division I St. Lawrence and Niagara, and two to Division III national champion Middlebury.
The award is the inaugural one given out at the Division III women’s level.
All awards will be presented on April 29 at the American Hockey Coaches Association’s annual convention, scheduled for Naples, Fla.
