GLOUCESTER, Mass. – The Adrian College NCAA men's hockey team began its weekend on Thursday at the NCAA Division III Frozen Four hosted by Endicott College. The weekend began with a day of practice for the team followed by the opening reception. At the reception, the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced the 2022-23 national awards.
The Adrian College men's hockey team earned three All-Americans including
Matus Spodniak and
Chase Spencer on First Team, and
Sam Ruffin on Second Team. The AHCA also announced the 2022-23 Sid Watson Award winner for the Division III Player of the Year. For the first time in program history, the Sid Watson Award was given to Adrian College.
Matus Spodniak was named the 2022-23 Sid Watson Award Winner.
Spodniak played in 30 games this season and led the Bulldogs to a 24-4-2 record on the year along with the NCHA Regular Season Championship and Harris Cup Championship. Spodniak is the country's leading scorer with 56 points on the season on 29 goals and 27 assists. Spodniak netted the game winning goal in overtime against UW-Stevens Point in the NCAA Quarterfinals to send the Bulldogs to Boston for the Frozen Four.
Spodniak ranks second in the country in power play goals with 12. Five of his goals are game winning goals with three of them coming in overtime. He's also recorded four hat tricks this season along with 17 blocked shots. Spodniak was named to the NCHA All-Conference Team earlier this season and was also named the NCHA Player of the Year setting him up to win his All-American Award and the Sid Watson Award.
Also representing Adrian on First Team All-American is defenseman
Chase Spencer. Spencer also played in 30 games this season where he finished with four goals and 19 assists. He totaled 63 shots on the year with a +/- of +23. Three of his four goals came on the power play while also blocking 17 shots this year. Spencer earned one of the defensive spots on the NCHA All-Conference Team.
Landing himself on Second Team All-American for the second time in his career and second consecutive season is
Sam Ruffin. Ruffin has played in 23 games with his season being cut short due to injury early in the Harris Cup Playoffs. Ruffin still managed to total 33 points on the season as the team's captain on 11 goals and 22 assists. He took 66 shots this season scoring four power play goals, a shorthanded goal, and four game winners. Ruffin was a member of the NCHA All-Conference Team this season and was a 2021-22 All-American.
The Adrian College NCAA men's hockey program now has won 30 All-American awards since the program began back in 2007. Spodniak's Sid Watson Award is the first time in Adrian College history that the Bulldogs have won a National Player of the Year. All of the awards were accepted by the student-athletes at the 2022-23 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four Reception on Thursday night leading up to Friday's semifinal games.
The Bulldogs will take on the University of New England on Friday, March 24 at 3:00 PM at Endicott College. The winner will advance to the National Championship and take on the winner of Endicott and Hobart.
