LAKE PLACID, NY — Jack Arena, who led Amherst College into this weekend's NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey National Championship Semifinals with a 24-3-1 record, has been named the 44th recipient of the Edward Jeremiah Award, given annually to the Men's Division III Ice Hockey Coach of the Year.

The Lord Jeffs have been one of the most consistent teams in Division III this year, following an 8-1 start with a 6-2-1 record during a grueling nine-game road trip, and they have since extended that to 12-0 for the longest active unbeaten streak in Division III. Amherst won the program's second conference title after defeating Middlebury for the third time this season, and followed with a 3-1 win over Plattsburgh in the NCAA quarterfinals to finish at 14-0 at home. This weekend will mark Amherst's firstever trip to the national semifinals, as the Jeffs had come up short in their two previous quarterfinal appearances.

The Jeffs lead the nation in scoring defense (1.64), having outscored opponents by a 50-12 margin during their current 12-game win streak. Amherst also ranks nationally in power play (27.5, 5th), penalty kill (87.0, 5th) and combined special teams (57.1, 4th) with six shutouts to its credit. Arena is finishing his 29th season at Amherst where he has compiled a record of 376-290-50. He stepped into the head coaching position immediately following graduation from Amherst in 1983. He had served as the Amherst captain during the 1982-83 season in which he also received the Division III Hobey Baker Award. He remains the fourth leading scorer in Amherst history.

A native of Randolph, Massachusetts, Arena also serves as the Amherst golf coach. This season, Arena was assisted by Gregg DiNardo and Mike McLaughlin.

The Edward Jeremiah Award is named in honor of the great Dartmouth College head coach and was first presented in 1970. The runner-up for this year's Edward Jeremiah Award was Mike McShane of Norwich University, a four-time recipient of this award (1997, 1999, 2000, and 2010).

The Coach of the Year Awards are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Winners will receive their awards at the annual AHCA Celebration of Men's Ice Hockey Banquet, held in conjunction with the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. This year's banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 28.

 

Winners of the Edward Jeremiah Award ( Division Coach of the Year)
1970	Sid Watson, Bowdoin		1991	Glenn Thomaris, Elmira
1971	Sid Watson, Bowdoin		1992	Bruce Marshall, Connecticut
1972	Jack Canniff, Massachusetts		1993	Joe Baldarotta, WI-Stevens Point
1973	Jim Cross, Vermont		1994	Jeff Meredith, Fredonia
1974	Barry Urbanski, Boston State		1995	Bill Beaney, Middlebury
1975	Wendall Forbes, Middlebury		1996	Dean Talafous, WI-River Falls
1976	Don Roberts, Gustavus Adolphus		1997	Mike McShane, Norwich
1977	Bill Riley, Jr., Lowell		1998	Mike Schwartz, Augsburg
1978	Sid Watson, Bowdoin		1999	Mike McShane, Norwich
1979	Don Brose, Mankato State		2000	Mike McShane, Norwich
1980	Steve Stirling, Babson		2001	Wayne Wilson, RIT
1981	Herb Hammond, Plattsburgh State		2002	Dan Stauber, WI-Superior
1982	Steve Stirling, Babson		2003	George Roll, Oswego State
1983	Mike Gibbons, Bemidji State		2004	Bill Beaney, Middlebury
	Peter Van Buskirk, Holy Cross		2005	Terry Skrypek, St. Thomas
1984	Bob Peters, Bemidji State		2006	Bill Beaney, Middlebury
1985	Rob Riley, Babson		2007	Ed Gosek, Oswego State
1986	Terry Meagher, Bowdoin		2008	Tim Coghlin, St. Norbert College
1987	Tony Mariano, Norwich		2009	Dominick Dawes, Neumann College
1988	Glenn Thomaris, Elmira		2010	Mike McShane, Norwich
1989	Terry Meagher, Bowdoin		2011	Tim Coghlin, St. Norbert College
1990	Bill Beaney, Middlebury		2012	Jack Arena, Amherst College