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Three Boston College players led the list of Walter Brown Award semifinalists. The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston announced the nominations Monday for the 62nd award, given annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
Johnny Gaudreau, Kevin Hayes and Bill Arnold, the trio that makes up Boston College's terrific first line, were all named semifinalists.
Bentley senior Brett Gensler, the school's all-time record holder at the Division I level, is the only returning champion as the St. Charles, Mo. native won the coveted award as a sophomore. If Gensler were to win he'd join Mike Mottau, Chris Drury, Tim Sheehy and Bob Cleary as the only two-time winners of the award.
The Falcons are the only Atlantic Hockey Association school with semifinalists. Defenseman Steve Weinstein, the top scoring blue liner in the country, is the other nominee from Ryan Soderquist's team.
Yale and Quinnipiac of the ECAC each have two candidates as well. Sam Anas and Jordan Samuels-Thomas are representatives from the Bobcats while Kenny Agostino and Jesse Root were nominated from the Bulldogs.
Player | Position | Class | School | Hometown |
Brett Gensler | Forward | Senior | Bentley | St. Charles, Mo. |
Steve Weinstein | Defense | Junior | Bentley | Los Angeles, Calif. |
Bill Arnold | Forward | Senior | Boston College | Needham, Mass. |
Johnny Gaudreau | Forward | Junior | Boston College | Carneys Point, NJ |
Kevin Hayes | Forward | Senior | Boston College | Dorchester, Mass. |
Danny O'Regan | Forward | Sophomore | Boston University | Needham, Mass. |
Mark Naclerio | Forward | Sophomore | Brown | Milford, Conn. |
Jimmy Vesey | Forward | Sophomore | Harvard | Charlestown, Mass. |
Clay Witt | Goalie | RS Junior | Northeastern | Brandon, Fla. |
Ross Mauermann | Forward | Junior | Providence | Janesville, Wis. |
Sam Anas | Forward | Freshman | Quinnipiac | Potomac, Md. |
Jordan Samuels-Thomas | Forward | Senior | Quinnipiac | West Hartford, Conn. |
Connor Hellebuyck | Goalie | Sophomore | UMass Lowell | Commerce, Mich. |
Chris McCarthy | Forward | Senior | Vermont | Collegevilla, Pa. |
Kenny Agostino | Forward | Senior | Yale | Flanders, NJ |
Jesse Root | Forward | Senior | Yale | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Jeff Cox covers college, junior and high school hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.