Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Bullock, Koelzer, Lund and Neatby Named Finalists for ECAC Awards
March 02, 2017 | Women's Ice Hockey
Princeton's Carly Bullock, Kelsey Koelzer, Karlie Lund and Steph Neatby are all finalists for ECAC Hockey awards as championship weekend approaches.
Koelzer is one of four finalists for Best Defenseman. The league's reigning Best Defenseman Koelzer, was tied for first in scoring among all defenders with 22 points (5 goals and 17 assists) in conference play, while ranking ranking second in overall points with 28 points (7 goals and 21 assists). The senior captain led all of her counterparts registering with 105 shots on goal in league-play and 4.77 shots per contest. The Horsham, Pa. native was the lone defenseman in the league to record a hat trick, her second of her career, at Rensselaer on Dec. 2, 2016. Koelzer finished with 37 blocks in league action helping the Tigers surrender only 1.50 goals per game in 22 league contests. She also netted two game-winning goals on the season.
Lund is one of four finalists for Best Forward. The reigning ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year Lund, is leading the Tigers offense on 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in overall games. A return finalist for the league's Best Forward Award, Lund could often be found on the league's honor roll list each week, winning Player of the Week honors on Nov. 22. The Eden Prairie, Minn. native averaged 1.45 points per game, while netting four game-winning goals. She finished with three power-play goals on the season and recorded a hat trick on Nov. 18 versus then No. 5 Colgate. In conference play Lund ranked fifth in both shots on goal (108) and points per game (1.50). She finished with a +27 plus/minus rating, which was second-best in league games,        Â
Bullock and Neatby are finalists for Rookie of the Year, as Princeton captures two of the final three finalist spots.
Bullock led ECAC Hockey rookies in goals with 18 and ranked second in conference games with 22 points. The Eden Prairie, Minn. native finished tops among all freshmen recording four power-play goals and five game-winning goals in 22 league games during the 2016-17 campaign. Bullock also recorded two hat tricks during conference play during the month of January. The Tigers are 10-3-0 in overall contests when Bullock scores a goal, as she currently boasts a plus/minus rating of +23. She also was tabbed with the league's Rookie of the Week honors on five occasions this season (Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, and Feb. 7)Â and was named Player of the Week on Jan. 3 helping the Tigers to a mid-season 11-game unbeaten stretch (9-0-2).
Neatby is also a finalist for Goalie of the Year and Player of the Year.
Currently sporting an 11-4-1 overall record, netminder Steph Neatby started Princeton on its 11-game unbeaten streak in late November. She ranks second nationally in goals-against average (1.41) and save percentage at .953. Three of her four shutouts came in conference play this season. Logging nearly 700 minutes in league games, she only surrendered a total of 13 goals and showcased a league-best .958 save percentage. She has made 30+ saves in seven games with a season-high and program record 60-save performance in a 3-2 triple overtime loss to Quinnipiac in postseason quarterfinal action on Feb. 24. Her solid play was recognized throughout the season earning Goaltender of the Week honors on four occasions (Dec. 13, Jan. 3, Jan. 10 and Jan. 17); Rookie of the Week once (Dec. 13); back-to-back Goaltender of the Month honors (Dec., 2016 and Jan. 2017); Rookie of the Month for Jan., 2017); and HCA's National Rookie of the Month (Jan., 2017).
The winners, as well as the all-ECAC Hockey team selections, will be announced tomorrow evening at the championship banquet in Potsdam, N.Y.