Women’s Hockey: Record four Cadets named to CCM East Region All-American squads
ROCHESTER, N.Y – The Norwich women's ice hockey team tripled its number of American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American selections on Thursday night at the 2012 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship banquet held at the Rochester Airport Marriot Hotel Conference Center.
Senior forward Julie Fortier (Saint-Malachie, Quebec) and junior forward Jillayne DeBus (Howell, Mich.) were each named to the East Region First Team All-American squad while senior defensemen Amanda Wilks (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Sarianne Lynn (Wethersfield, Conn.) were both selected to the East Region Second Team.
Norwich (26-2-1) boasted the most All-American selections out of any other team in the country. Fellow Division III Frozen Four participants Rochester Inst. of Technology (RIT) and Gustavus Adolphus each landed three players on the four All-American teams.
Wilks become the first player in program history to be named an All-American multiple times as she was the first player to ever earn the prestigious honor during her freshman season in 2008-09. Last year, Sophie Leclerc became just the second player to earn the honor when she was named First Team All-American after leading the nation in points.
Wilks scored nine goals and tallied 21 assists for 30 points this season. She was named to the ECAC East All-Conference First Team for the fourth straight season as well as became just the fourth member and first defenseman to reach the 100-career point milestone.
Fortier earned her first All-American nod after leading all of Division III in scoring with 30 goals and 23 assists for 53 points. She became the program all-time career points leader earlier this season, passing Leclerc's old mark. She has 92 goals and 81 assists for 173 points. She was named the ECAC East Player of the Year and was selected to the ECAC East All-Conference First Team.
DeBus was rewarded for her breakout junior campaign where she shattered her previous single-season highs to the tune of 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points. She recorded her 100th career collegiate point earlier this season as she now sits with 52 goals and 54 assists for 106 points through two seasons at Norwich and one year at Elmira College. She joined Fortier on the ECAC East First Team.
Lynn was the fourth and final Cadet honored on Thursday with her first All-American selection after leading all Division III defensemen with six goals and 31 assists for 37 points. Lynn exploded in her final two seasons in the Maroon & Gold, registering 66 points in 59 games. She was named to the ECAC East All-Conference Second Team.
For all the latest Norwich Athletics news go to www.norwichathletics.com, become a fan on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/NUCadets, visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/madkins11100, or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NorwichCadets
-CADETS-
