Polacek Among Finalists for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
OVERLAND PARK, KS – Rensselaer forward Chase Polacek has been named one of 10 finalists today for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in hockey. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
Thus far this year, Polacek has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 26 games. Seven of his goals have come on the power play and seven have been game-winners. He also has a shorthanded goal and 28 penalty minutes. He is currently fifth in the nation and first in ECAC Hockey in points per game (1.50), 10th and second in assists per game (0.88) and 12th and third in goals per game (0.62). He leads the country in game-winning goals and is second in the league in power play markers.
Polacek has been especially effective lately, tallying seven goals and seven assists in his last seven games. He had five points in two games last weekend, earning him his second straight MLX Skates ECAC Hockey Player of the Week Award as well as the USCHO.com Third Star of the Week.
A native of Edina, Minn., Polacek led ECAC Hockey in numerous categories on his way to capturing prestigious accolades last season, including ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, Hobey Baker Award finalist and National All-America. In 39 games he had 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points. Twenty-eight of his points (13 goals, 15 assists) came on the power play.
In 142 career games the Academy of Holy Angels graduate has 60 goals and 91 assists for 151 points. He is currently 22nd in school history in career points and 19th in career assists.
In addition to his success on the ice, Polacek – a business and management major with a 3.44 cumulative grade point average – has also contributed off of it, donating many hours to various programs. He has been a volunteer with the Troy-Albany Youth Hockey Association since arriving on campus; participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life on three occasions; played in an exhibition game against the Capital District Sled Warriors to help raise money and awareness for the team and STRIDE Adaptive Sports; participated in the Center for Disability Services Telethon, read to grade school children and worked on several community clean-up programs.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for
Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on
the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their
platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their
communities.
The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 20
candidates announced in October. Nationwide fan voting begins
immediately to determine the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote
via the Lowe's
Senior CLASS Award website or on the Lowe's Senior CLASS
Award Facebook fan
page through March 20. Fan votes will be combined with
media and coaches votes to determine the winner.
Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce
the winner April 7 at the NCAA Frozen Four® in Saint Paul,
Minnesota.
Finalists are listed below:
2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Hockey Finalists
Stéphane Boileau, Forward, Union (New York)
Carter Camper, Forward, Miami (Ohio)
Cory Conacher, Forward, Canisius
Chay Genoway, Defense, North Dakota
Tanner House, Forward, Maine
Jacques Lamoureux, Forward, Air Force
Bryant Molle, Defense, Alaska Fairbanks
Chase Polacek, Forward, Rensselaer
Matt Read, Forward, Bemidji State
Calle Ridderwall, Left Wing, Notre Dame
For more information on all the finalists, visit www.seniorCLASSaward.com.
