Finalists Announced for Sid Watson Award Given to AHCA Division II-III Men's Player of the Year

Seven players who have distinguished themselves on the ice in 2016-17 have been named finalists for the 2017 Sid Watson Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III men's ice hockey player in the country. Four finalists are from the United States, two are from Canada and one from Slovakia. All were voted Player of the Year in their conferences and break down to four seniors, two juniors and one sophomore. The only repeat finalist is Geneseo senior forward Stephen Collins.

Seven players who have distinguished themselves on the ice in 2016-17 have been named finalists for the 2017 Sid Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Watson Award honors the memory of former Bowdoin College head coach and athletic director Sid Watson. A three-time AHCA Coach of the Year, Watson served Bowdoin for more than 30 years, winning 326 games in 24 seasons as head coach.

Seven players who have distinguished themselves on the ice in 2016-17 have been named finalists for the 2017 Sid The recipient of this year's Watson Award will be announced on Thursday, March 23, during the 2017 NCAA Division III Men's Championship student-athlete banquet in Utica, NY.

2016-2017 Finalists for the Sid Watson Award

Evan Buitenhuis, Junior, Goalie, Hamilton College
(Burlington, ON) - NESCAC Player of the Year

Stephen Collins, Senior, Forward, Geneseo State*
(Pittsford, NY) - SUNYAC Player of the Year

Brady Fleurent, Sophomore, Forward, U. of New England
(Biddeford, ME) - CCC Player of the Year

Dominik Gabaj, Senior, Forward, Nazareth College
(Bratislava, Slovakia) - ECAC West Player of the Year

Colin Larkin, Junior, Forward, UMass Boston
(Waterford, MI) - NEHC Player of the Year

Jack Lewis, Senior, Forward, Lake Forest College
(London, ON) - NCHA Player of the Year

Thomas Williams, Senior, Forward, University of St. Thomas
(Alexandria, MN) - MIAC Player of the Year

* Was also a finalist in 2016

Previous Winners of the Sid Watson Award
AHCA Men's Ice Hockey Division III Player of the Year
1993 Frank Cirone Wisconsin-Stevens Point Forward
1994 Ray Alcindor Middlebury Forward
1995 Charlie Gaffney Bowdoin Forward
1996 Ian Smith Middlebury Defense
1997 Steve Toll RIT Forward
1998 Mark Spence Middlebury Forward
1999 Rob Smillie St. Norbert Forward
2000 Steve Aronson St. Thomas Forward
2001 Keith Aucoin Norwich Forward
2002 Jerry Galway RIT Defense
2003 Maris Ziedins St. Norbert Forward
2004 Kevin Cooper Middlebury Forward
2005 Kurtis McLean Norwich Forward
2006 Adam Hanna St. John's Goalie
2007 Andrew Gallant Manhattanville Goalie
2008 Kyle Jones St. Norbert Goalie
2009 Jeff Landers Amherst Defense
2010 David Martinson Gustavus Adolphus Forward
2011 Chris Berenguer Hamline Defense
2012 Jonathan LaRose Amherst Goalie
2013 Paul Rodrigues SUNY Oswego Forward
2014 David Jacobson St. Norbert Goalie
2015 Drew Fielding St. Thomas Goalie
2016 Jamie Murray Babson Goalie