Kretzman Named NESCAC Rookie of the Year, Second-Team All-NESCAC

February 27, 2002

First-year forward Beau Kretzman was named Second-Team All-NESCAC and the conference's Rookie of the Year after leading the Jeffs in goals (25), assists (19), and points (44)

AMHERST, MA - Amherst College men's hockey first-year forward Beau Kretzman (Edina, MN) was named Second-Team All-NESCAC and the conference's Rookie of the Year on Tuesday after leading the Jeffs in goals (25), assists (19), and points (44), and to a berth in the NESCAC Postseason Championship Tournament. Kretzman is currently tied for second in the nation in goals per game (1.00), third in short-handed goals (3), 11th in points per game (1.76) and 12th in power-play goals (8) - as of the NCAA's most recent reporting date - and was the only first-year player in the conference to earn All-NESCAC honors.

"He had the best freshman year by an Amherst player since I've been coaching," said 19th-year head coach Jack Arena '83. "He was consistently our best player and one of the best players in the league."

The rookie sharpshooter eclipsed a number of Amherst scoring records in 2001-02, including the College's all-time single-season marks for goals and assists by a freshman. He also fell just three goals shy of the Jeffs' overall single-season goal-scoring record of 28, set by Doug Smink in 1992-93, and one assist shy of the single-season record for assists by a freshman.

Kretzman earned both NESCAC Player of the Week and U.S. College Hockey Online Offensive Player of the Week honors on February 13th, after scoring four goals and adding a trio of assists in a pair of key conference wins over visiting Connecticut College and Tufts University. The Jeffs finished their season at 6-14-5 overall and 6-9-4 in conference play, bowing to second-seeded Bowdoin College in the first round of the NESCAC Postseason Championship Tournament.

Meanwhile, senior forward Mike Carosi of Bowdoin was named the 2001-02 NESCAC Men's Hockey Player of the Year. Carosi leads the NESCAC and is among the nation's scoring leaders with 46 points on 13 goals and 33 assists. Three players from top-seeded Middlebury earned first-team all-conference honors. Senior defenseman Matt Dunn and sophomore forward Kevin Cooper joined goaltender Christian Carlsson as first-team honorees. Dunn leads the conference in scoring among defensemen and leads the NESCAC with five game-winning goals. Cooper is the top scorer for the Panthers with 22 goals, second most in the conference, and 34 points. Carlsson, who was named to the second team last year, leads the conference with a 1.30 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.

Senior defenseman Brian Shuman of Bowdoin was named to the first team after anchoring a Polar Bear defense that allowed just 1.78 goals against this season. Senior forward Mathew Greason of Trinity, a second-team all-conference selection last year, earned first-team accolades this year. He is the Bantams' leading scorer for the second consecutive year with 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points.

Terry Meagher of Bowdoin was named the NESCAC Men's Hockey Coach of the Year after leading the Polar Bears to a 14-2-3 league mark and a spot in the NESCAC Championship semifinals.

2001-02 All-NESCAC Men's Hockey Team

FIRST TEAM
Mike Carosi - Bowdoin
Kevin Cooper - Middlebury
Mathew Greason - Trinity
Matt Dunn - Middlebury
Brian Shuman - Bowdoin
Christian Carlsson - Middlebury

SECOND TEAM
Rob Gordon - Hamilton
Beau Kretzman - Amherst
Sean Starke - Bowdoin
Ryan Constantine - Middlebury
Craig Leger - Hamilton
Geoffrey Faulkner - Trinity

NESCAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Carosi - Bowdoin

NESCAC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Beau Kretzman - Amherst

NESCAC COACH OF THE YEAR
Terry Meagher - Bowdoin