Conway wins scoring title
PC’s Dugan, former BC star Watts lead Div. 1
While the health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic brought a halt to the 2019-2020 college hockey season, it could not put a dent in the superb performances of several locals who won national scoring titles.
Among those were Norwich senior Amanda Conway of Methuen, who took the NCAA Div. 3 title after producing 32 goals, 27 assists for 59 points. The respective Div. 1 crowns went to Providence College sophomore Jack Dugan and former Boston College star Daryl Watts, now a Wisconsin Badger. Watts, who had a whopping 42 goals and 82 points while winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as an Eagles freshman before transferring, compiled 25-49-74 this season. The Friars’ Dugan posted 10 goals and a nation-best 42 assists for 52 points.
Conway, a 5-foot-4 forward, enjoyed phenomenal success throughout her college career, scoring 116 goals with 72 assists and 188 points in 111 career games. Conway finished third all-time in NCAA Div. 3 goals scored, a mere four lamp-lighters in back of the co-leaders, Laura Hurd of Elmira and Elizabeth Gibson of Plattsburgh, both of whom closed their careers in 2005. Hurd was killed in a car accident in 2006, one year after winning national Player of the Year, which has since been named in her honor.
A product of the Boston Shamrocks (JWHL) before arriving at Norwich, Conway made an impact from the get-go, being named New England Hockey Conference Rookie of the Year and its tourney MVP for her freshman year. As a sophomore, Conway helped Norwich capture the national title with a 27-1-3 mark while becoming a Laura Hurd Memorial Award nominee after pacing the NCAA in pointsper-game (1.90). During her junior season, Conway was named First team All-American, and repeated as a Hurd Award nominee. She was the New England Hockey Writer’s Player of the Year after posting an NCAA-leading 1.07 goals-per-game.
This season, Conway reached even greater heights, becoming the first-ever three-time NEHC Conference Player of the Year while moving to No. 4 all-time in NCAA career points. Had the season not come to an abrupt end over concerns raised by the COVID-19 threat, Conway may have become the NCAA career leader in goals and points. Conway, who teamed with left wing Sophie McGovern (19-25-44) and freshman center Julia Masotta (11-22-33) of Tewksbury to form one of the most potent lines in the country, bagged the unassisted game-winner in last week’s 3-1 road win over Amherst, which put the Cadets into the NCAA quarterfinals.
Norwich had bigger aspirations for its season that are now impossible to fulfill.
“I had the feeling. We beat Amherst, 3-1, on Wednesday and then we went to practice on Thursday. They had suspended the NHL games. About halfway through (practice) our coach, Sophie Leclerc, learned everything had been canceled and told us. Some of the girls were crying on the ice because of what we knew we could have done (win the NCAAs),” said Conway, a 23-year-old psychology major.
Despite the disappointment, it has been a magical four years at Norwich for Conway, who now may turn her sights to a career in public safety or enter the coaching realm.
“We have had a very fortunate four years. Winning the national championships as sophomores when we beat Elmira, 2-1 at home was a highlight,” said Conway, whose older brothers, Dillon, 27, and Cam, 25, played hockey at Central Catholic High. “I think (the scoring title) is pretty cool, but I try not to focus on that stuff. I try to stay humble. But, it is very cool.”
Quiz of the week
This legendary NHL goaltender won 94% of his college games. Who is he? Answer below.
Slapshots
Other locals who topped NCAA stats included Sacred Heart senior Austin McIlmurray, who co-led in power-play goals with 12. … Yale freshman and Bruins draft pick Curtis Hall and UMass junior AllAmerican John Leonard of Amherst tied with two others in game-winning goals (6). … Boston College freshman Alex Newhook, Bentley junior Brendan Hamblet of Hopkinton, and Sacred Heart senior captain Jason Cotton were among seven skaters to tab a nation-best three shorthanded goals. … Boston University standout David Farrance led all defensemen in points-pergame (1.26) after posting 43 points, the first Terriers blueliner with that many since Tom Poti had 42 in 1997-98. Farrance also led defensmen in goals with 14. Harvard freshman Nick Abruzzese (14-30-44) was top freshman in points-pergame with 1.42, edging BC’s Newhook (19-23-42) and BU phenom Trevor Zegras (11-25-36), who were at 1.24 and 1.09, respectively. … Harvard led in team power-play percentage at 31.2 percent, converting 34 of 109 chances.
Northeastern sophomore Alina Mueller, one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, tied fellow finalist Elizabeth Giguere in game-winners, both with 10. … BC forward Hannah Bilka topped freshmen in points-per-game with 1.09 on 14-23-37 totals. NU led in scoring margin at 2.95 per-game.
Among Div. 3 men, Babson sophomore Mike Egan of Billerica tied for first in game-winners (6). … Norwich senior Tom Aubrun nipped Babson junior Brad Arvanitis of Holliston in goal-against-average, 0.77 to 1.33. The same duo went 1-2 in save percentage at .967 and .954, respectively. Aubrun’s 13 shutouts were far and away the most in Div. 3 and key to why Norwich led in scoring defense at 0.86. … Amherst featured the best penalty-kill at 93.8-percent (90 of 96), while Norwich was No. 2 at 93.2 percent (68 of 73).
Remember, there are only 192 more days until the official start of next college hockey season. Stay well, everybody.
Quiz Answer
Cornell’s Ken Dryden went 764-1 (.944 pct) from 1966-69. Drop the puck!