LaFontaine and Tufto among the top-10 finalists for Hobey Baker Award
#BCHLAlumni Jack LaFontaine (Penticton) and Odeen Tufto (Vernon) are both on the list of Top-10 Finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player.https://t.co/awETQkdimP pic.twitter.com/BUj82HmP5b
— BC Hockey League (@BCHockeyLeague) March 17, 2021
University of Minnesota netminder Jack LaFontaine (30-13-1, 2.19 GAA, .923 SV%, and 3 shutouts in 45 games with Penticton in 2018-19) and Quinnipiac University forward Odeen Tufto (25 goals, 40 assists in 57 games with Vernon in 2015-16) are among the top 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey.
The top three finalists are announced on Apr. 1 and the winner is unveiled on Apr. 9.
The last BCHL alumnus to win the Hobey is Ryan Duncan (48 goals, 43 assists in 57 games with Salmon Arm in 2004-05), who claimed the award in 2006-07 as a sophomore at the University of North Dakota.
Crookshank inks deal with the Ottawa Senators
News Release: The #Sens have signed 2018 draftee Angus Crookshank to a three-year, entry-level contract set to begin in 2021-22: https://t.co/nHQMm6oGiY pic.twitter.com/i4QKgNoQpk
— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) March 17, 2021
University of New Hampshire forward Angus Crookshank (32 goals, 35 assists in 77 games with Langley from 2016-18) signed his first National Hockey League contract on Wednesday, inking a three-year, entry-level deal with the Ottawa Senators.
The deal with Ottawa kicks in next season, so for 2020-21, Crookshank has signed an amateur tryout agreement and will report to the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators.
The 21-year-old North Vancouverite posted nine goals and 18 points in 20 NCAA games this season with the UNH before turning pro.
Two BCHL alumni earn ECAC first-team honours
Congratulations to the 7️⃣ student-athletes that have been named to the 2021 #ECACHockey All-League First-Team!
🔗 https://t.co/QFxNgtvviE pic.twitter.com/qVGrntCbXn
— ECAC Hockey (@ecachockey) March 17, 2021
ECAC Hockey announced its 2021 first-team all-league on Wednesday and the list includes two former BCHL players.
Quinnipiac University defenseman Zach Metsa (three goals, 24 assists in 57 games with Merritt in 2016-17) and teammate Odeen Tufto (25 goals, 40 assists in 57 games with Vernon in 2015-16) were both named to the team.
Metsa, 22, had five goals and 25 points in 27 games with the Bobcats this season. The Delafield, Wisconsin product is entering his senior year at Quinnipiac next season.
The 24-year-old Tufto led the Bobcats in scoring this season with six goals and 44 points in 27 games as a senior serving as team captain.
A pair of BCHL alumni highlighted among ECAC freshmen
Congratulations to the 6️⃣ members of the 2021 #ECACHockey All-Rookie team!
🔗 https://t.co/bKs12W6gWu pic.twitter.com/KKGgLANaP0
— ECAC Hockey (@ecachockey) March 17, 2021
The ECAC also announced its all-rookie team on Wednesday and a pair of former BCHL players are featured there as well.
St. Lawrence University teammates Luc Salem (one goal, 12 assists in 45 games with Prince George and Alberni Valley in 2017-18) and Greg Lapointe (29 goals, 31 assists in 56 games with Coquitlam in 2019-20) each got the nod.
Lapointe, 20, finished the season with four goals and eight points in 15 games for the Saints. The 21-year-old Salem notched three goals and seven points in 15 games with St. Lawrence in 2020-21.
