BOSTON – Senior Mikhail Bryan of the Suffolk men's hockey team has been selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Concannon Award, given annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England at the NCAA Division II/III level, Gridiron of Greater Boston President Chris Clemete announced Thursday morning. Bryan is one of 25 of the top hockey players across two divisions in New England collegiate hockey and highlights the early hopefuls of the 19th annual honor.
Bryan, a co-captain from Dayton, has had a stand-up senior season leading the Rams in points (23) and assists (15) to go along with eight goals, which are good for second on the squad. His eight strikes contain two game winners including the mark to lift Suffolk over then-No. 12 Hobart Dec. 7. In the 5-2 victory over the Statesmen, he recorded a career-night of four points on a pair of goals and helpers, respectively. Bryan reproduced that personal-best stat line in an 8-6 win at Johnson & Wales Jan. 12.
The defensemen who has stepped on the offense end, has helped Suffolk seal its spot in the New England Hockey Conference playoffs in its first season in the highly competitive league. Among his conference counterparts, Bryan is tied for fifth among defenseman with 1.05 ppg. Overall, he is the seventh best scorer in the conference.
Eighteen teams are represented in this year's list of candidates that include eight players from the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), seven from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCA), six from the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC), three from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and one from the Northeast-10 conference (NE-10).
Bryan, who is the first player from Suffolk to make the list since Justin Selep '16 in 2016 and fifth Ram to make the list since the inception in 2001, is one of six defensemen, 17 forwards and two goalies.
Nine of the 2019 nominees were semifinalist a year ago.
"This is definitely among the greatest number of semifinalists we have ever had for the Concannon Award," said Gridiron Club Hockey Awards Committee chairman Tim Costello. "The exceptional level of play in each of the five conferences has showcased many outstanding hockey players worthy of consideration for nomination. It has been very challenging for the committee to reduce the list among so many outstanding performances this season. With extremely tight conference races, every player will be playing meaningful hockey in the upcoming weeks and showcasing their abilities in support of their team to separate themselves from this great field of nominees."
The Gridiron Club will announce the finalists and winner of the 19th Joe Concannon Award in March, following league playoffs and before the start of the NCAA DIII Frozen Four. The award will be presented to the winner at the New England College Hockey Writers' Dinner in April.
2019 JOE CONCANNON SEMIFINALIST
Nick Albano, So., Defenseman, UMass Boston *
Tommy Besinger, Sr., Forward, Endicott|
Ryan Bloom, Jr., Forward, University of New England *
Mikhail Bryan, Sr., Defenseman, Suffolk
Michael Covach, Sr., Forward, Plymouth State
Nick DiNicola, Sr., Forward, Fitchburg State *
Danny Eruzione, So., Forward, Salve Regina
Liam Feeney, Jr., Defenseman, Trinity *
Brady Fleurent, Sr., Forward, University of New England *
Carlos Fornairs, Sr., Forward, New England College
Walker Harris, Jr., Forward, Wesleyan
Carter Horwitz, Sr., Defenseman, Endicott
Daniel Kucerovy, Sr., Forward, Endicott
Bailey MacBurnie, Jr., Goaltender, UMass Boston
Chad Malinowski, Sr., Defenseman, Wesleyan
Marcus Mollica, Sr., Forward, Williams
Mike Moran, Sr., Forward Worcester State *
Nick O'Connor, Sr., Forward, Colby
Matt O'Dea, Sr., Forward, Western New England *
Nolan Redler, Sr., Forward, UMass Boston *
Nick Rosa, So., Forward, Babson
Tim Sestak, Jr., Goaltender, Wesleyan
Cody Todesco, Bowdoin, Sr., Forward, Bowdoin
Dante Tomassini, Sr. Defenseman, Assumption
Zachery White, Sr., Forward, Curry
*2018 Semifinalist
THE JOE CONCANNON AWARD
The Gridiron Club established the Joe Concannon Award in 2001 to honor Joe, a lifelong devotee of college hockey, former member of the Walter Brown Award Selection Committee and, as a journalist, a staunch advocate for the amateur athletes he knew and covered. A native of Litchfield, Connecticut, Joe graduate from Boston University in 1961. He served as Sports Information Director (SID) at Holy Cross before joining The Boston Glove in the late 1960's to cover college sports. Joe declined frequent invitations by his editors to write about Boston's major professional sports teams, preferring to concentrate on the colleges, distance running and golf. He wrote the book Marathoning with Bill Rodgers and established the highly successful Litchfield Road Race in his hometown. Joe was a world traveler and was especially proud of his Irish heritage, frequently sojourning to the Emerald Isle. He passed away in 2000.