Eichel wins Player of the Year as BU sweeps Hockey East major awards

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Regular-season champion Boston University swept the major awards handed out at Thursday night's annual Hockey East Awards Banquet held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Mass.

Jack Eichel became just the third player in league history, and the first since Maine's Paul Kariya in 1993, to win both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. The Terriers completed the sweep as David Quinn was tabbed as Bob Kullen Coach of the Year.

Eichel is BU's first league Player of the Year since goaltender John Curry in 2007 and its first Rookie of the Year since Kieran Millan two years later. Boston College's Brian Leetch (1987) and Kariya were previously the only players to take home each of the top two honors in Hockey East.

Eichel, a North Chelmsford, Mass. native, was a unanimous choice to top the All-Conference First Team. He leads the nation with 41 assists, 61 total points and a whopping plus-42 rating, plenty to earn him Hobey Baker Award finalist status also on Thursday.

FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS

Goaltender: Jon Gillies, jr., Providence
Defense: Matt Grzelcyk, jr., Boston University; Robbie Russo, sr., Notre Dame
Forward: Jack Eichel, fr., Boston University; Kevin Roy, jr., Northeastern; Vince Hinostroza, so., Notre Dame

SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS

Goaltender: Matt O'Connor, jr., Boston University
Defense: Noah Hanifin, fr., Boston College; Mike Paliotta, Vermont
Forward: Danny O'Regan, Boston University; Evan Rodrigues, Boston University; Devin Shore, Maine

The league honored nine additional players as HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STARS:

Goaltender: Thatcher Demko, jr., Boston College; Rasmus Tirronen, sr., Merrimack
Defense: Ian McCoshen, so., Boston College; Ben Hutton, jr., Maine; Matt Benning, so., Northeastern
Forward: Alex Tuch, fr., Boston College; Matt Willows, sr., New Hampshire; Tyler Kelleher, so., New Hampshire; Ross Mauermann, sr., Providence

Eichel and Hanifin, the Rookie of the Year runner-up, were unanimous selections to the PRO AMBITIONS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM:

Goaltender: Cal Petersen, Notre Dame
Defense: Noah Hanifin, Boston College; Brandon Montour, Massachusetts
Forward: Jack Eichel, Boston University; Alex Tuch, Boston College; C.J. Smith, UMass Lowell

The All-Rookie Team was announced on Wednesday, along with a host of other individual honors listed below:

Old Time Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman: Mike Paliotta, sr., Vermont
Gladiator Custom Mouthguards Best Defensive Forward: Noel Acciari, jr., Providence
Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award: Michael Sit, sr., Boston College & Dalen Hedges, so., Northeastern (co-winners)
Charlie Holt Team Sportsmanship Award: Vermont
Army ROTC Three Stars Award: Jack Eichel, fr., Boston University
Squad Locker Scoring Champion: Jack Eichel, fr., Boston University
Stop It Goaltending Champion: Jon Gillies, jr., Providence