MARSHFIELD, Mass. – In its second season, Suffolk women's hockey had three student-athletes recognized with NEHC accolades in Maddy Burton, Shana Cote and Julia McLellan, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon. Burton and Cote garnered spots on the second and third team, respectively, while McLellan was tabbed to the all-rookie squad.
The threesome helped the blue-and-gold to its second post-season berth in as many years as the program's existence. Suffolk's 8-7-1 league ledger was good for the sixth spot in the conference tournament, which gets underway this Saturday, Feb. 22.
Burton burst onto the scene for Suffolk after skating her first two seasons at Merrimack. The junior totaled 20 points on the year, 15 of which came against conference counterparts. After the first semester break, the Aurora, Illinois native really turned the volume, producing half of her points (10) over the final nine games. In that stretch she scored seven times and handed out three helpers. The standout play started in the Rams 8-0 win against Johnson & Wales Jan. 24. She helped Suffolk produce the most goals against a league foe in program history as she became the second-ever skater to notch a hat trick and finished that outing with a personal-best four points.
Cote collected her second all-conference accolade after a 19-point sophomore season, which was good for second on the squad. She is the first Ram to earn all-league nods in back-to-back campaigns. The Broomfield, Colorado product was once again a scoring threat, finding the back of the net a team-best 11 times with eight helpers on her stat line.
McLellan became a staple between the posts for Suffolk from the get-go. Over 19 games played, 17 starts, the Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan's local logged a 3.24 GAA and. 898 save percentage. The highlight outing of her rookie season came when she turned aside a program-best 52 shots in a 1-1 stalemate against Trinity Jan. 5. The spot on the all-rookie team is added to her awards resume, which includes a NEHC Rookie of the Week nod Dec. 2 and a NEHC Goaltender of the Week accolade Jan. 5.
Suffolk looks to keep its season going this weekend as it make the trip to Johnson & Wales Saturday, Feb. 22 for the league's quarterfinals. The third-seeded Wildcats and sixth-seeded Rams are scheduled for a 4 p.m. puck drop at Lynch Arena.
2019-20 ALL-NEHC
Player of the Year - Amanda Conway, Norwich
Rookie of the Year - Ann-Frederique Guay, Norwich
Goaltender of the Year - Caty Flagg, UMass Boston
Coach of the Year - Mike Venezia, Castleton
First-Team All-Conference
Forward - Katie Leffler, UMass Boston
Forward - Amanda Conway, Norwich
Forward - Sophie McGovern, Norwich
Defense - Adelaide Budington, UMass Boston
Defense - Samantha Benoit, Norwich
Goaltender - Caty Flagg, UMass Boston
Second-Team All-Conference
Forward - Courtney Gauthier, Castleton
Forward - Hannah Tracy, Johnson & Wales
Forward - Maddy Burton, Suffolk
Defense - Morgan Tefft, Norwich
Defense, Sydney Linnick, Plymouth State
Goaltender - Alexis Kalhm, Castleton
Third-Team All-Conference
Forward - Alexis Fagan, Plymouth State
Forward - Caitlin Connor, Plymouth State
Forward - Shana Cote, Suffolk
Defense - Casey Traill, Castleton
Defense - Kayla Goleniak, Norwich
Goaltender - Alexa Berg, Norwich
All-Rookie Team
Forward - Koryn Russell, Johnson & Wales
Forward - Ann-Frederique Guay, Norwich
Forward - Ingrid Holstad-Berge, Norwich
Defense - Adelaide Budington, UMass Boston
Defense - Molly Flanagan, Norwich
Goaltender - Julia McLellan, Suffolk