BOSTON – For the third time in her career, Suffolk women's hockey head coach Taylor Wasylk was announced as a finalist for the CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year.
The award will be announced Thursday, March 16 and presented on Thursday, April 27 at the AHCA Convention in Naples, Florida.
To be considered a finalist, one must either be named Coach of the Year at the conference level or advance to the NCAA Frozen Four. Three of the finalists were finalists a year ago: Suffolk's own Wasylk, Mike Carroll of Gustavus Adolphus and six-time winner Kevin Houle of Plattsburgh.
Wasylk led the Rams to new heights in 2022-23 with the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament appearance on top of the team's first Commonwealth Coast Conference regular-season and postseason crowns.
Under the guidance, Suffolk compiled the 14th-best scoring defense in the nation with just 1.54 goals against per game, while Suffolk's scoring of 2.28 goals per outing was good for 24th in NCAA DIII. The Rams' special teams topped the conference with 21 power plays goals for a 25.9 conversion rate, the 10th-best in the country.
The blue-and-gold was one why shy of tying the program-record of 19, finishing its fifth varsity season 18-8-2.
Wasylk, who just capped off her fifth season, earned her third bid to the ballot, second in as many years. The three-time conference coach of the year has yet to take home the national distinction.
2022-23 CCC/AHCA Women's Ice Hockey College Division Coach of the Year Finalist
A.J. Aitken, St. Norbert, NCHA Coach of the Year
Mike Carroll, Gustavus Adolphus, NCAA Semi-Finalist (MIAC)
Jason Carter, Northland, WIAC Coach of the Year
Dave Clausen, Utica, UCHC Coach of the Year
Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh, NEWHL Coach of the Year, NCAA Semi-Finalist*
Tracy Johnson, St. Olaf, MIAC Coach of the Year
Jeff Matthews, Amherst, NCAA Semi-Finalist (NESCAC)
Tim McAuliffe, Castleton, NEHC Coach of the Year
Emily McNamara, Hamilton, NESCAC Coach of the Year, NCAA Semi-Finalist
Taylor Wasylk, Suffolk, CCC Coach of the Year