GLOUCESTER, Mass. – The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced the NCAA Division III Player of the Year finalists for men's and women's hockey on Friday afternoon. The Sid Watson Award is presented annually to the Player of the Year in NCAA Division III men's hockey, while the Laura Hurd Award honors the Player of the Year in NCAA Division III women's hockey.
Adrian College is represented by two finalists, as Ian Amsbaugh was named a finalist for the Sid Watson Award and Riley Johnson earned a spot as a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award.
Amsbaugh helped lead the Bulldogs to a 20-7-1 overall record, including a 14-3-1 mark in NCHA play, securing the Peters Cup Championship and the No. 1 seed in the NCHA Harris Cup Playoffs. The senior from Bottineau, North Dakota was named the NCHA Player of the Year and finished the season with a team-high 49 points on 12 goals and 37 assists. He led the nation in total assists and assists per game (1.32), while also topping the country in total points and ranking third in points per game (1.75).
Johnson guided the Bulldogs to a 24-6-0 record, highlighted by a dominant 17-1-0 performance in NCHA action to capture both the NCHA Regular Season title and the Slaats Cup Playoff championship. With the conference tournament win, Adrian earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 11 seed, ultimately falling to No. 6 Wilkes in the opening round.
The senior from Farmington, Michigan was named NCHA Co-Player of the Year and led the team with 54 points on 23 goals and 31 assists. She ranks third nationally in total points and fourth in points per game (1.93), while also placing third in assists and assists per game (1.14). Additionally, Johnson ranks sixth in the nation in goals and seventh in goals per game (0.79).
Matus Spodniak is the only player in Adrian College men's hockey history to win the Sid Watson Award, earning the honor following the 2022-23 season. The Adrian women's hockey program is still seeking its first Laura Hurd Award recipient.
The winners of both awards will be announced next week at the NCAA Division III Frozen Four banquets.
