WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Junior Myles Abbate of Plymouth State has been named the MASCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Year and headlines the 2021-22 All-Conference team as voted on by the seven coaches from around the conference. 

 

Abbate, the reigning MASCAC Rookie of the Year, adds another award to his trophy case with the 2021-22 Player of the Year honors. The junior from Norwell, Mass. led the Panthers to their fifth straight MASCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Regular Season title and top seed in the tournament. Abbate led the MASCAC in total points with 40 on 17 goals and 23 assists while scoring six on the power play and two game-winners. In the win over Salem State in December, he found the back of the net once and assisted on five other goals to help the team to victory.

 

Earning the 2021-22 MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors is Erik Larsson of Salem State. The sophomore from Lake Tahoe, Calif. was first for the Vikings in points with 26 on 11 goals and 15 assists while netting six goals on the power play which is second-most in the league. His best game of the season came in the win over Framingham State where he had two goals and added an assist.

 

Dean Fuller of Fitchburg State and Craig Russell of Plymouth State have been named the 2021-22 Champion’s Choice Men’s Ice Hockey Co-Coach of the Year. Fuller led the Falcons to a 14-3-1 record in league action for the second seed while Russell led the Panthers to a 14-2-2 mark and the top seed in the tournament.

 

Joining Abbate on the MASCAC All-Conference First Team are JR Barone of Plymouth State and Dillon Radin of UMass Dartmouth at forward, Simon Besner of Plymouth State and Max Roth of Worcester State on defense and Brian McGrath of Fitchburg State in goal. 

 

Landing on the MASCAC Second Team with Larsson is Rece Bergeman and Hunter Fortin of Fitchburg State at forward, Jake Maynard of UMass Dartmouth and Matt Yianacopolus of Salem State on defense and Valtteri Valtonen of Westfield State in goal.