Connecticut junior forward Tim Olsen has been selected the inaugural Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year. The Atlantic Hockey Awards were voted upon by the league’s nine head coaches.
The Vadnais Heights, Minn., native led Atlantic Hockey in scoring, finishing the year with 19 goals, 18 assists for 38 points in conference play. His 19 goals was a league best while his 18 assists ranked him second amongst his peers. Olsen’s 38 points also gives him the Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Scoring Trophy. During the regular season, Olsen was named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year four times.
Sacred Heart’s Pierre Luc-O’Brien garnered this year’s Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year honors. The freshman forward, who hails from Nicolet, Quebec, tallied nine goals, 12 assists for 21 points for the Pioneers this season.
Jamie Holden took home the Atlantic Hockey Goaltending Award. This award is presented to the goaltender that has the best goals against average during the regular season in Atlantic Hockey league games only. Holden, a junior from Telkwa, B.C., went 9-4-3 in league play, had a goals against average of 1.91 and saving percentage of .942.
Holy Cross coach Paul Pearl was tabbed the Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year. The Crusaders skated to a 17-4-3 conference record and finished as the regular season Champions. Pearl now focuses his and his teams’ attention as the top seed in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament. Pearl’s overall record is 135-123-23.
Rounding out the other individual awards: The Best Defensive Forward Award went to Holy Cross senior captain Greg Kealey. The Best Defenseman Award belongs to Mercyhurst’s T.J. Kemp. Holy Cross’ Tim Coskren was given the Atlantic Hockey Sportsmanship Award. Coskren, a senior forward from Walpole, Mass., played 24 league games and only had three penalties for six minutes.
American International receives the Team Sportsmanship Trophy for lowest penalty minutes per game over the course the regular season in league play. The Yellow Jackets averaged 10.8 penalty minutes per game for 2003-04.
Atlantic Hockey All-Conference
First-Team
F Jeff Dams, Holy Cross
F Tim Olsen, Connecticut
F Guillaume Caron, AIC
D T.J. Kemp, Mercyhurst
D Eric Nelson, Connecticut
G Jamie Holden, Quinnipiac
Second-Team
F Garrett Larson, Sacred Heart
F Mike Carter Mercyhurst
F David Wrigley, Mercyhurst
D Reid Cashman, Quinnipiac
D Konn Hawkes, Sacred Heart
G Tony Quesada, Holy Cross
All-Rookie Team
F Pierre-Luc O’Brien, Sacred Heart
F Matt Scherer, Connecticut
F James Sixsmith, Holy Cross
D Reid Cashman, Quinnipiac
D Jamie Hunt, Mercyhurst
G Scott Tomes, Connecticut
