Annual Awards Announced
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Harvard forward Sarah Vaillancourt was named the ECAC Hockey's Player of the Year, it was announced today by the League office. The senior captured the honor for the second consecutive season and was one of several individuals to earn repeat recognition announced by the League office in conjunction with the start of the 26th annual ECAC Women's Hockey Championship week.
Colgate's Kimberly Sass was the League's Goaltender of the Year, after being named a first-team all-league and first-team all-rookie selection. Rookie of the Year honors went to a Cornell student-athlete for the second consecutive season with Catherine White taking the honors. White was also selected to the league's all-rookie team and second-team all-league. Katherine Dineen of Princeton was named Best Defensive Defenseman for the second consecutive season and earned a spot on the first team all-league team, while St. Lawrence's Alison Domenico was named Best Defensive Forward. Clarkson's Marie-Jo Gaudet, Cornell's Rebecca Johnston and Princeton's Sasha Sherry, joined Vaillancourt, Sass, and Dineen, as each also earned first-teams honors.
Princeton head coach Jeff Kampersal was named the Coach of the Year, while Union earned the Turfer Athletic Trophy for the second consecutive season, which is given to the team that the coaches believe best fits the ideals of both Turfer Athletic and the ECAC Hockey: Sportsmanship, Commitment, Tenacity and Innovation.
Vaillancourt was tied for the ECAC Hockey lead in points (20-15-35) and points-per-game (2.06), second in goals (20), fourth in assists (15), and tied for first in power-play points (4-12-12). The two-time Player of the Year achieved all of this in just 17 League contests. The reigning Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner is once again a top-10 finalist this season for the most prestigious honor in women's college hockey.
Sass anchored the Raiders' defense that went on an eight-game mid-season unbeaten streak. Sass started 16 conference games, earning one shutout on the season. She led the League with a .941 save percentage and guided the Colgate defense posting a 1.85 goals-against average, and a 9-4-3 record.
Johnston, who took home last season's Rookie of the Year honors, followed-up this season with an even stronger campaign. Johnston was tied for the League lead in scoring (22-13-35), led the conference in goals (22) and was tied for second in power play goals (6). This is the second consecutive first-team all-league selection for Johnston.
Gaudet became one of the charter members of the Golden Knights' 100-career point club this season. The senior forward averaged 0.95 points per contest and finished 10th in the League in scoring with nine goals and 12 assists. The Clarkson assistant captain is the school's all-time leader in goals scored with 62 in 144 games.
Dineen was part of the dynamic defensive duo for Princeton's defense that only allowed 1.77 goals-per-game this year. The two-time best defensive defenseman was just as potent on the offensive end. Dineen recorded five goals on the season and added seven assists.
Sherry followed-up a great rookie season with an even more productive sophomore season. She was third on Princeton in scoring with 16 points, scored three game-winning goals in conference play this season and added four power play goals. Overall Sherry ranked second among her counterparts in scoring in conference action.
Earning Coach of the Year honors for the third time, Kampersal guided the Tigers to a 15-6-1 League mark and third-place finish. Kampersal surpassed the 200-win mark this season and has averaged nearly 16 wins per season in his 13 seasons at Princeton.
The League also recognized its top rookies, with White and Sass leading the way on the six-player list. Rensselaer's Alisa Harrison and Clarkson's Juana Baribeau joined White as all-rookie team forwards, while Brown's Paige Pyett and Rensselaer's Sierra Vadner were the defensive picks.
Twelve other student-athletes were also recognized with second-and third-team honors.
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2009 ECAC HOCKEY ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Year - Sarah Vaillancourt, Harvard
Goaltender of the Year - Kimberly Sass, Colgate
Rookie of the Year - Catherine White, Cornell
Best Defensive Forward - Alison Domenico, St. Lawrence
Best Defensive Defenseman - Katherine Dineen, Princeton
Coach of the Year - Jeff Kampersal, Princeton
Turfer Athletic Trophy - Union
FIRST TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Forward: Sarah Vaillancourt, Harvard
Forward: Marie-Jo Gaudet, Clarkson
Forward: Rebecca Johnston, Cornell
Defense: Katherine Dineen, Princeton
Defense: Sasha Sherry, Princeton
Goaltender: Kimberly Sass, Colgate
SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Forward: Catherine White, Cornell
Forward: Jenna Cunningham, Dartmouth
Forward: Alison Domenico, St. Lawrence
Defense: Kiira Dosdall, Colgate
Defense: Britni Smith, St. Lawrence
Goaltender: Christina Kessler, Harvard
THIRD TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Forward: Jenny Brine, Harvard
Forward: Britney Selina, Clarkson
Forward: Amanda Trunzo, Dartmouth
Defense: Helen Resor, Yale
Defense: Carlee Eusepi, Clarkson
Goaltender: Nicole Stock, Brown
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Forward: Catherine White, Cornell
Forward: Alisa Harrison, Rensselaer
Forward: Juana Baribeau, Clarkson
Defense: Paige Pyett, Brown
Defense: Sierra Vadner, Rensselaer
Goaltender: Kimberly Sass, Colgate
