March 15, 2017 | Lynchburg, Va.
Sophomore forward Zak Hayes (pictured in back), the ESCHL Tournament MVP, comes out of the tunnel before the Flames' midnight game, Dec. 9 at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Nathan Spencer)
In its first season playing in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League, Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team was well represented in the ESCHL's all-conference awards, released this month.
The Flames (29-13) captured the ESCHL tournament title by upsetting four-time defending tournament champion Stony Brook in the Feb. 26 final at Rhode Island, where sophomore forward Zak Hayes was named Tournament MVP.
For the overall awards, Liberty received two ESCHL First-Team nominations and three All-Rookie Team selections, including freshman forward Quinn Ryan, who was named ESCHL Rookie of the Year after ranking second on the Flames and sixth in the conference in scoring with 18 goals and 27 assists.
He was joined by Liberty's third-leading scorer, sophomore defenseman Zane Schartz (18G, 24A), on the First Team, and by freshmen forward Josh Hamilton and defenseman Matt Cruickshank on the All-Rookie Team. Cruickshank was Liberty's lone representative on the All-Defensive Team while senior forward Grant Garvin, the Flames' leading scorer with 21 goals and 25 assists, was named to the ESCHL's Second Team.
Stony Brook, the regular-season champion, received Most Valuable Player (forward JT Hall) and Coach of the Year (Chris Garofalo) awards.
Next year, the ESCHL will expand from six to eight teams with the addition of Syracuse University and New York University.
Tournament Most Valuable Player
Forward Zak Hayes Liberty University
Most Valuable Player
Forward JT Hall Stony Brook University
Coach of the Year
Chris Garofalo Stony Brook University
The Sportsmanship Award
Forward Ray Boudiette University of Rhode Island
Rookie of the Year
Forward Quinn Ryan Liberty University
1st Team All-League
Goalie Chris Marsillo Rutgers University
Defense Zane Schartz Liberty University
Defense Frank Sherding Stony Brook University
Forward JT Hall Stony Brook University
Forward Chris Stemke Stony Brook University
Forward Quinn Ryan Liberty University
2nd Team All-League
Goalie Dylan Troiano University of Delaware
Defense Billy D' Amore University of Rhode Island
Defense Max Freeman University of Delaware
Forward Ray Boudiette University of Rhode Island
Forward Grant Garvin Liberty University
Forward Cole Zucker University of Delaware
All-Rookie Team
Goalie JT Ketzenberger University of Rhode Island
Defense Matt Cruickshank Liberty University
Defense Devin Jenny University of Delaware
Forward Quinn Ryan Liberty University
Forward Josh Hamilton Liberty University
Forward Jake Horachek West Chester University
All-Defensive Team
Forward John Redgate University of Delaware
Forward Matt Crockett Stony Brook University
Defense Alex Miller Stony Brook University
Defense Matt Cruickshank Liberty University
Defense Billy D'Amore University of Rhode Island
Defense Bill Swahl West Chester University
