Hockey East Top Scholar-Athletes: Andy Balysky, Ryan Flanigan and Mike McLaughlin

Wakefield, Mass. -- Hockey East is proud to announce a league-record 100 student-athletes were named to the league's 2011-12 All-Academic Team in the conferences 28th season of play, which was announced on Wednesday afternoon. Each student-athlete achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better in each of the two academic periods during which he was actively competing.

Providence senior forward Andy Balysky (Randolph, N.J.), Merrimack senior forward Ryan Flanigan (Rochester, N.Y.) and Northeastern senior forward Mike McLaughlin (Seaforth, Ont.) shared the distinction as Hockey East Top-Scholar Athletes, as the trio earned perfect 4.0 GPA's for the season.

The league also honored five student-athletes that received "Distinguished Scholar" status. Those earning "Distinguished Scholar" status achieved a 3.0 or better in each semester over four varsity seasons. Vermont senior forward Matt Marshall (Hingham, Mass.) and Boston University senior defenseman Ryan Ruikka (Chelsea, Mich.) were honored as "Distinguised Scholars", along with Balysky, Flanigan and McLaughlin.

The Hockey East Association is a 10-team Division I college men's hockey conference founded in 1984 and an eight-team Division I women's league which began play in 2002-03. The men's league has won eight NCAA championships in the past 20 years. Since 1999, Hockey East has won six NCAA Championships and have placed 20 teams in the Frozen Four, along with 53 teams in the NCAA Tournament.

2011-2012 HOCKEY EAST ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Albertson, Ben (Vermont, F) ***
Allen, Conor (Massachusetts, D) **
Andersson, Theo (Maine, F) ***
Anthoine, Mark (Maine, F)
Auvenshine, Emerson (Massachusetts, F)

Balysky, Andy (Providence, F) +
(Hockey East Top-Scholar Athlete, 4.00 GPA)
Bergland, Matt (Providence, F) **
Block, Austin (New Hampshire, F)
Bly, Rhett (Merrimack, F)
Borisenok, Mike (New Hampshire, F)
Boulanger, Marc (UMass-Lowell, G) **
Brickler, Tyler (UMass-Lowell, F)
Bruneteau, Brett (Vermont, F)
Bruneteau, Nick (Vermont, D)
Brodhag, Brandon (Merrimack, F)
Brown, David (Providence, F) **
Brown, Patrick (Boston College, F) **

Camper, Jay (New Hampshire, F)
Cannata, Joe (Merrimack, G)
Carr, Doug (UMass-Lowell, G) **
Cerretani, Andrew (Maine, F)
Cornell, Mike (Maine, D) **
Cross, Damian (Providence, F)
Czepiel, Kevin (Massachusetts, F)

DeAngelo, Peter (Massachusetts, F)
DeCenzo, Anthony (Vermont, F) **
Demers, Simon (Merrimack, D)
DiGirolamo, Matt (New Hampshire, G) ***
Doerring, Blake (Vermont, D)
Dyroff, Brooks (Boston College, F) ***

Ferreira, Matt (UMass-Lowell, F)
Flanigan, Ryan (Merrimack, F) +
(Hockey East Top-Scholar Athlete, 4.00 GPA)
Flynn, Brian (Maine, F) **

Gaudet, Ross (Boston University, F)
Gates, Justin (Providence, G) ***
Gould, Quinn (Merrimack, F)
Gracel, Branden (Massachusetts, F)
Griem, Arthur (Vermont, D) **

Hanley, Joel (Massachusetts, D)
Harvey, Myles (Providence, D)
Herrington, Brooks (Vermont, F) **
Heywood, Jordan (Merrimack, D) **
Holmstrom, Josh (UMass-Lowell, F) **

Kamrass, Zach (UMass-Lowell, D)
Kipp, Damon (New Hampshire, D) ***
Leen, Connor (Maine, F)
Lenz, H.T. (Vermont, F) **

MacLeod, Isaac (Boston College, D) **
Madore, Rob (Vermont, G) **
Madsen, Carter (Merrimack, F) **
Manno, Joseph (Northeastern, F)
Mansfield, Justin (Merrimack, F)
Manson, Josh (Northeastern, D)
Markison, Colin (Vermont, F)
Marotta, Sam (Merrimack, G)
Marshall, Matt (Vermont, F) +
Mastalerz, Steve (Massachusetts, G)
McCarthy, Tom (Merrimack, D) **
McLaughlin, Mike (Northeastern, F) +
(Hockey East Top-Scholar Athlete, 4.00 GPA)
Moccia, Anthony (Boston University, G)
Montagna, Mike (Vermont, F)
Mountain, Bryan (Northeastern, G) ***
Mountain, Kyle (Vermont, F)
Mullane, Pat (Boston College, F)
Murphy, Kyle (Providence, F)

Nemec, Mark (Maine, D) ***
New, Danny (Providence, D)
Norman, Bill (Maine, D)

O'Connor, Brice (Maine, D) ***
Oskroba, Ben (Northeastern, D)

Pavelski, Scott (New Hampshire, F) ***
Pendenza, Joseph (UMass-Lowell, F) **
Pereira, Michael (Massachusetts, F)

Randall, Ryan (New Hampshire, D)
Rawlings, Chris (Northeastern, G)
Reynolds, Kyle (Vermont, F)
Rollheiser, Grant (Boston University, G)
Rooney, Chris (Providence, F)
Rutt, Jake (Maine, D)
Ruhwedel, Chad (UMass-Lowell, D) **
Ruikka, Ryan (Boston University, D) +

Seeley, Josh (Maine, G) **
Shamanski, Steven (Providence, D) **
Sheen, Elliott (Merrimack, F)
Silengo, Jeff (New Hampshire, F)
Sit, Michael (Boston College, F)
Stollery, Karl (Merrimack, D) ***
Sullivan, Dan (Maine, G) **
Swavely, Jon (Maine, F) **

Teglia, Jeff (Massachusetts, G) **
Thompson, Shayne (UMass-Lowell, F) **
Thrush, Casey (New Hampshire, F)

van Riemsdyk, Trevor ((New Hampshire, D)
Velischek, Alex (Providence, D)
Velleca, Jeff (Merrimack, F) **
Vrolyk, Robbie (Northeastern, F)

Wey, Patrick (Boston College, D) **
Willows, Matt (New Hampshire, F)
Wyer, Jeff (New Hampshire, G) **

Yevenko, Oleg (Massachusetts, D)

** (denotes two-time honoree)
*** (denotes three-time honoree)
+ (denotes "Distinguished Scholar, 3.0 GPA in each semester over four varsity seasons)

2011-12 Hockey East Academic All-Star Team
(Top GPA by Position)
G: Jeff Teglia, Massachusetts (So., 3.88)
D: Jordan Heywood, Merrimack (So., 3.84)
D: Ben Oskroba, Northeastern (Fr., 3.83)
F: Andy Balysky, Providence College (Sr., 4.00)
F: Ryan Flanigan, Merrimack College (Sr., 4.00)
F: Mike McLaughlin, Northeastern (Sr., 4.00)