April 2, 2010

UNH's Kelly Paton was named New England Player of the Year

The New England Hockey Writers Division I Women's New England All-Star team and awards have been finalized after careful deliberation from a panel of administrators and media throughout the region. This year's banquet will be held on Tuesday, April 13 at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus, Mass. The banquet will start at 6 p.m. All awards and All-Star teams will be presented at the gala. All coaches, student-athletes, family members and friends are encouraged to attend Tuesday's banquet. Contact Pete Souris at (781) 245-2122 for information on attending this event. Cost is $35 per person.

Senior Kelly Paton was voted New England's Division I Women's Player of the Year after tying for the national points lead with a scoring line of 19-32-51. Paton was instrumental in leading the Wildcats to their fifth-consecutive trip to the Women's NCAA Tournament. To cap her stellar career, Paton was named a 2009-10 RBK/AHCA Women's Hockey Division First Team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Rick Seeley of Quinnipiac was named the New England Division I Women's Coach of the Year after guiding the Bobcats to their most successful season in program history. Seeley directed Quinnipiac to its best overall record (19-10-8) and best conference record (11-4-5) since the program's establishment nine years ago. The Bobcats' impressive regular season finished them tied for third in the ECAC as QU hosted its first playoff series in program history.

Seeley is the first coach in U.S. college hockey history, dating back to 1895, to lead his team, from one season to the next, to at least a 16 game improvement in both the win and loss columns (3-26-5 in 2008-09 to 19-10-8 in 2009-10).

The Women's Division I New England All-Star team consisted of six forwards, four defenseman and two goaltenders. New Hampshire senior Micaela Long and Paton both tied for as the NCAA's highest point scorers for the 2009-10 season. Long totaled 13-38-51 as both seniors averaged 1.55 points per game. Joining the two Wildcats at the forward position are sophomore Ashley Cottrell of Providence (14-17-31) and Dartmouth's senior captains Jenna Cunningham (18-13-31) and Sarah Parsons (20-20-40). Harvard junior Kate Buesser (16-24-40) rounds out the forward contingent.

Defensively, senior Cristin Allen of Connecticut (3-21-24), junior Courtney Birchard of UNH (9-13-22), junior Amber Yung of Providence (4-9-13) and Boston University sophomore Tara Watchorn (3-14-17) composed the Women's All-New England blue unit.

Sophomore netminder Florence Schelling of Northeastern and rookie goalie Victoria Vigilanti of Quinnipiac make up the All-New England goaltending corps. Schelling, a second-team RBK Hockey Division I All-American, posted a 1.37 GAA and a .949 save percentage in 21 games this season, en route to being named the Co-Player of the Year in Hockey East. Vigilanti was tapped as the 2009-10 ECAC Women's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Year and the ECAC Rookie of the Year. Vigilanti finished atop three of the four major goaltending categories, ranking first in save percentage (.951), goals against average (1.23) and saves (901). The rookie also topped the league in conference save percentage as she posted a .957 in ECAC action.

For more complete listings of All-Stars and awards, including extensive archives, check www.newenglandallstars.com.

2009-10 New England Women's Division I All-Stars

Goalies
Florence Schelling (Northeastern)
Victoria Vigilanti (Quinnipiac)

Defense
Cristin Allen (Connecticut)
Courtney Birchard (New Hampshire)
Amber Yung (Providence)
Tara Watchorn (Boston University)

Forwards
Kate Buesser (Harvard)
Ashley Cottrell (Providence)
Jenna Cunningham (Providence)
Micaela Long (New Hampshire)
Sara Parsons (Dartmouth)
Kelly Paton (New Hampshire)

2009-10 New England Hockey Awards

Coach of the Year
Rick Seeley (Quinnipiac)

Player of the Year
Kelly Paton (New Hampshire