EASTON, Mass. (March 20, 2023)- Stonehill College men's ice hockey freshman, Carter Rapalje was named a finalist for the 2022-23 Sid Watson Award sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association as announced by the organization earlier today.

Rapalje is one of 17 finalists and is the lone freshman and one of 12 forwards up for the award. The Sid Watson Award honors the memory of former Bowdoin College head coach and athletic director Sid Watson. A three-time AHCA Coach of the Year, Watson served Bowdoin for more than 30 years, winning 326 games in 24 seasons as head coach.

The freshman forward had a stellar rookie campaign for the Skyhawks as he finished with team-high 20 goals and dished out 15 assists for 35 points. He and Frank Ireland were the only two skaters to finish with over 30 points and more than 15 goals. Rapalje was the program's first 20-goal scorer since Matt Curran did so in the 2006-07 season when he netted 30 goals.

On the year, Rapalje had six multi-goal games, and in two of those contests, he posted a hat trick. His first hat trick came in a 5-2 win at Post University (Nov. 19) and his second was in an 8-2 triumph at Assumption University (Jan. 10). He also had a stretch during the season where he scored goals in five-straight games all of which the Purple and White won. In games where Rapalje scored, Stonehill finished with a 9-3-0 record and when he scored more than one goal, the squad was 5-0-1. 

Rapalje was also one of the team's stronger facilitators as he was one of four skaters to finish with 15 or more assists. He had four games this year where he dished out multiple assists and in each of those games, he had two assists. In those four games, Stonehill was 4-0 and anytime he recorded just one assist, the Skyhawks were 4-2-1. Rapalje's best all-around game was during Stonehill's 8-2 win at Assumption where he finished with five points (three goals and two assists). He ended up having 10 games with two or more points and in those 10 games, the Purple and White were 9-1-0. He also had an eight-game streak at the beginning of the year where he earned one or more points.

Rapalje helped Stoenhill break the program's wins record (17) as the Skyhawks finished 17-6-2 which topped the previous record held by the 2013-14 team who notched 16 wins. 

About the HCA

Beginning in the 1990s, the commissioners of the NCAA's Division I ice hockey conferences began meeting regularly to discuss ways to grow the sport of college hockey. Their meetings and activities were formalized when the Hockey Commissioners Association was created in 2003. At first, the HCA dealt solely with men's hockey issues. The Women's Hockey Commissioners Association was formed in 2014.

In 2009, the HCA negotiated with USA Hockey to secure funding for a marketing arm for Division I Men's hockey, College Hockey Inc. (CHI). Division I Men's hockey has benefited from the work of CHI, as have hundreds of families who have been provided information and guidance as they make important choices for their hockey-playing sons.

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