In its fifth year of existence, this is the most Stonehill awardees for the honor
AHCA Announces Krampade/AHCA All-American Scholars
Bittinger-Esser |
Woodruff |
McCracken |
Day |
Hall |
McElaney |
EASTON, Massachusetts (July 30, 2021) – Six from the Stonehill College ice hockey team were selected as Krampade/American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholars, as announced by the organization this week.
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the AHCA adopted revised criteria for this year's honorees. To qualify, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.6 GPA for each semester, regardless of whether the school's hockey team was able to play this season or not. The names of 721 Division II-III men were announced this week, with 43 of them coming from the Northeast-10 Conference.
With their first awards were recent graduates, Kyle Woodruff and Jared McCracken, and rising juniors John Day, Richard Hall, Teddy McElaney, while classmate Sage Bittinger-Esser tallied his second one.
Bittinger-Esser, who is majoring in international business, earned a perfect 4.00 grade-point average in the spring semester and 3.77 in the fall. He saw his name placed on the NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll with Academic Excellence for the spring and Academic Distinction for the fall. He was also named to the Dean's List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll bringing his total to four times in his two years. This is his second recognition from the AHCA. As a freshman he played in seven games, recoding two assists this season, the first coming against Westfield State University and the second coming in a Conference battle against Assumption University. The Silver Spring, Maryland native graduated from Sandy Spring Friends School and played with the Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL Premier.
Woodruff, who graduated with a major in Business Marketing, averaged a 3.75 GPA in the fall and a 3.65 GPA in the spring. He has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll, the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Dean's List, as this year he earned NE10 Academic Honor Roll recognition with Academic Distinction. Last year he also earned the Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award. The Auburn, Maine native who was named an alternate captain this year, played in 54 games over his four-year career scoring six goals and tallying five assists for 11 points with one empty net goal. Woodruff graduated from Brunswick High School where he played ice hockey and lacrosse and he played for the South Shore Kings.
McCracken graduated in May with a degree in Marketing after transferring from Suffolk University following the 2018-19 season. At Suffolk he was named to the ACHA All-Academic Team and Dean's List twice. The recent graduate earned a 3.70 GPA in the fall of this year and a 3.93 GPA in the spring, earning NE10 Academic Honor Roll recognition with Academic Distinction both times. Last year he earned the Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award and was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and Dean's List. During the 2019-20 season, McCracken played in 18 games, scoring two goals and registering four assists for six points with one power play goal. The Hoschton, Georgia native graduated from Mill Creek High School where he played ice hockey.
Day, who is currently studying Marketing, earned a 3.92 GPA in the fall and a 3.76 GPA in the spring semester. The rising junior is a Team IMPACT fellow for Stonehill College who has been named to the Dean's List, NE10 Academic Honor Roll, and Athletic Director's Honor Roll multiple times. The goaltender has started and played in one game for the Skyhawks giving up only two goals for 1.86 goals against average with 31 saves in a 2-2 draw against non-conference opponent Westfield State University. Day spent three years at North Reading High School where he competed in golf, ice hockey, and baseball and then later graduated from Buckingham Browne and Nichols School where he played ice hockey and baseball for two years.
Hall, who is a rising junior studying criminology, earned a 3.86 GPA in the fall and a 3.83 GPA in the spring to earn his first recognition from the AHCA. A defenseman, Hall has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Dean's List. His freshman year, he played in two games recording one assist. He is a member of the Stonehill College Anchors Program. A native of Shelburne, Vermont, Hall graduated from Stanstead College where he competed in ice hockey and tennis.
McElaney, who is studying Business Management, averaged 3.62 over the two semesters this year. The rising junior played in 24 games as a freshman scoring his first-collegiate goal, a power play goal, in a 6-2 win over Southern New Hampshire University, while also tallying six assists for seven total points. He has been named to the Dean's List, NE10 Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll. The Walpole, Massachusetts native attended Walpole High School where he competed in ice hockey and baseball and graduated from St. Paul's School.
The Skyhawks won their third Northeast-10 Conference title during the 2019-20 season, as they defeated Franklin Pierce University, 3-1 at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Massachusetts in early March, while their 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Stonehill wrapped up the season with a 13-15-5 overall mark and an 8-6-4 conference record, as they began the season just 1-7-1.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
