For leading Amherst to the Frozen Four in Lake Placid, N.Y., after the Lord Jeffs failed to even make the NCAA Tournament the last two years, goalie Jonathan La Rose, of Edmonton, Alb., has been named USCHO’s Player of the Year for 2011-2012. La Rose beat out Norwich’s Pier-Olivier Cotnoir for the award. La Rose is the second consecutive goaltender to nab the award, after St. Norbert’s B.J. O’Brien claimed it last year.
This was La Rose’s senior year at Amherst, as he returned to the school he played at in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 after playing for Neumann in 2009-2010. La Rose wracked up many honors this year, including ACHA Player of the Year and NESCAC Player of the Year, as well as All-American honors.
La Rose was instrumental in Amherst’s success this year, helping the Lord Jeffs to a 13-game win streak that started after a loss to Bowdoin on January 6 and ended in a 2-1 overtime loss in the Frozen Four to Oswego on March 16. During that stretch, La Rose posted a .969 save percentage and recorded five shutouts. For the year, La Rose tabbed a .943 save percentage and 1.54 goals against average, with six shutouts and a 19-2-1 record. His shutouts and save percentage led the country.
La Rose posted a season-high 42 stops against Williams in February, then helped lead Amherst to the NESCAC Tournament title, stopping 46-of-47 shots in the first two games, then stopped 26-of27 shots against Plattsburgh in the NCAA quarterfinals. La Rose finished his career with a 42-4-3 record and a .943 save percentage.
USCHO’s awards were voted on by staff members. Still to come this week are the nation’s top coach, rookie of the year, and the All-USCHO first, second, third, and all-rookie teams.
