BOSTON – Suffolk women's forward Shana Cote has been named an East Second-Team CCM Hockey/AHCA All-American, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced Thursday. Cote became the first Ram in program history and first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) student-athlete to be tabbed an All-American.
The inaugural CCC Player of the Year was recognized as one of the top 25 NCAA Division III women's hockey players in their division after leading Suffolk's squad and conference in every offensive category with 42 points on 22 goals and 20 assists, all of which sit atop the Rams' single-season record books. The Laura Hurd finalist spearheaded a very aggressive offensive corps for the blue-and-gold, which put away 4.00 goals per game, a top-5 number nationally.
Cote was instrumental to Suffolk's winningest season that saw the Rams compile a 19-6-0 overall mark and 14-4-0 league ledger in the first CCC campaign, which saw the Rams finish second in the conference standings. A stealthy scorer, she was one of the most consistent producers on the ice all year long, providing a point in all, but three of Suffolk's 25 outings and multiple points 14 times. The Broomfield, Colorado native finished her senior season in the top-10 in country in faceoff wins (ninth – 306), goals per game (third – 0.92), pointers per game (seventh – 1.72) and power play goals (second – 9).
The CCM Hockey/AHCA All-American Hockey Teams are sponsored by CCM Hockey and chosen by members of the AHCA. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.
The 25 honorees this season represent 14 different programs. Cote is the only representative from a CCC institution to pick up the feat this season and first to do so in the conference's early history.
Early records indicate that All-American teams were loosely chosen before AHCA involvement dating back to 1947-48. Beginning in 1958, the AHCA oversaw the formal election of All-American squads with the first men's college division honorees handed out in 1969-70 and the first DIII women's team honored in 1999-00.
Cote, a two-year captain, is the first-ever Suffolk skater, male or female, to take home the prestigious distinction. As a freshman she became the first league rookie of the year back in 2018-19, and garnered the squad's first conference player of the year this year.
2021-22 CCCM/AHCA WOMEN'S DIVISION III ALL-AMERICAN
EAST FIRST TEAM
G - Nina Prunster – Colby
D – Jenny Heath – Elmira
D - Erin McArdle – Plattsburgh State **
F – Eliza Beaudin – Elmira
F – Annie Katonka – Plattsburgh State *@
F – Madie Ledit – Middlebury **
EAST SECOND TEAM
G – Leonie Kuehberger – Elmira
G – Caitlin Walker – Amherst *
D – Sierra Benjamin – Plattsburgh State
D – Claudia Vira – Middlebury
F – Shana Cote – Suffolk
F – Sara Krauseneck – Plattsburgh State
F – Georgiana Santullo – Utica
WEST FIRST TEAM
G – Chiara Pfosi – Aurora
D – Ava Jaschke – St. Norbet
D – Kayla Vrieze – Gustavus Adolphus
F – Callie Hoff – Wisconsin River Falls @@
F – Sophie Rausch – Hamline
F – Abigail Stow – Wisconsin River Falls *
WEST SECOND TEAM
G – Sami Miller – Wisconsin River Falls
D – Olyvia Opsahl – Lake Forest
D – Kirsten Vandenheuvel – Trine
F – Darci Matson – Aurora
F – Kora Torkleson – Washington River Falls
F – Brandi Wilson – Trine
* 2020 First Team
** 2020 Second Team
@ 2019 First Team
@@ 2019 Second Team