For the second consecutive season, the coaches of the women’s Hockey East Association could not narrow it down to a single player for recognition as the best in the league, so co-winners were again selected. UNH senior Stephanie Jones tied for fourth in league scoring with 14 goals and 12 assists, six points behind Providence sniper Karen Thatcher, who shared the Player of the Year Award with her. Thatcher was also selected as the Sportsmanship Award winner, edging out BC Humanitarian Award finalist Sarah Carlson for the second straight season.
With 18 goals in 18 league games played, UConn’s Jaclyn Hawkins was a very strong selection as ITECH Rookie of the Year, ahead of BC’s Deborah Spillane. Hawkins has already set new team records for goals and points and still has at least one more game to play.
BC’s second-year head coach Tom Mutch was honored alongside UNH’s Brian McCloskey as CCM Coach of the Year. McCloskey also won the award in his first year behind the UNH bench, 2002-03, which was also Hockey East’s first year of play for the women’s league. Mutch shifted his team into high gear down the stretch, as the Eagles posted a 4-1-1 league record in February which included wins over UConn and Providence, and a key sweep vs. Maine that vaulted BC into the Hockey East playoffs for the first time.
Players of the Year
Stephanie Jones, New Hampshire
(Sr. F; Kimberley, BC)
Karen Thatcher, Providence
(Jr. F; Douglas, MA)
ITECH Rookie of the Year
Jaclyn Hawkins, Connecticut
(Fr. F; Manotick, ON)
Runner-up: Deborah Spillane, Boston College
CCM Coaches of the Year
Brian McCloskey, New Hampshire
Tom Mutch, Boston College
Hockey East Scoring Champion
Nicole Hekle, New Hampshire (33 points)
(So. F; Winnipeg, MB)
Runner-up: Karen Thatcher, Providence (32 points)
ITECH Goaltending Champion
Melissa Bourdon, New Hampshire (1.85 GAA)
(So. G; Ile Bizard, QC)
Runner-up: Kaitlyn Shain, Connecticut (1.91 GAA)
ITECH “Three Stars” Award
Rush Zimmerman, Providence
(Sr. F; Grosse Pointe, MI)
Runner-up: Jaclyn Hawkins, Connecticut
Sportsmanship Award
Karen Thatcher, Providence
(Jr. F; Douglas, MA)
Runner-up: Sarah Carlson, Boston College
All-Hockey East 1st Team:
G – Melissa Bourdon (UNH)
D – Sarah Carlson (BC)
D – Natalie Vibert (UConn)
F – Nicole Hekle (UNH)
F – Stephanie Jones (UNH)
F – Karen Thatcher (PC)
F – Rush Zimmerman (PC)
All-Hockey East 2nd Team:
G – Kaitlyn Shain (UConn)
D – Lori DiGiacomo (NU)
D – Kelly Law (Maine)
D – Kathleen Smith (PC)
F – Tristan Desmet (Maine)
F – Jaclyn Hawkins (UConn)
F – Deborah Spillane (BC)
Honorable Mention:
G – Marisa Hourihan (NU)
D – Kristin Gigliotti (PC)
D – Laura Maddin (Maine)
D – Alicia Ramolla (UConn)
F – Amy Goodney (NU)
F – Lindsay Hansen (UNH)
F – Sonny Watrous (PC)
All-Rookie Team:
D – Kathleen Smith (PC)
F – Leah Craig (UNH)
F – Jaclyn Hawkins (UConn)
F – Nikki Petrich (NU)
F – Deborah Spillane (BC)
