PROVIDENCE, R.I. – After a historic season on the ice, the Norwich University women's ice hockey team dominated the inaugural Little East Conference (LEC) end-of-season awards, announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The Cadets claimed three of the conference's four major awards and placed 10 players on All-Conference teams, including six First Team selections.

Junior forward Livia Brooks (Walpole, Mass.) headlined the honors as the LEC Player of the Year, while freshman defenseman Maggie Hunter (Royal Oak, Mich.) was named Rookie of the Year. In his first season behind the bench, Justin Simpson earned LEC Coach of the Year honors after leading Norwich to a perfect 18-0 conference record.

Brooks, a two-time AHCA All-American, continued to cement her place among the nation's elite offensive players. She tied for the LEC lead with 19 goals, ranked first in points (35), and finished fifth in assists (16). During the season, Brooks also surpassed the 50-career goal milestone and sits just one point shy of becoming the 14th player in program history to reach 100 career points. This is Brooks's second Player of the Year nod after taking home the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Player and Rookie of the Year in 2024, and her third straight First-Team All-Conference nod.

"Livia started this season right where she left off in her previous two years at Norwich, continuing to be a consistent and dynamic offensive threat," said Simpson. "She is one of the most dangerous players in the country and drives our group offensively every time she steps on the ice. Livia can create and score in any situation, making her a constant threat. Opponents know exactly who she is. Livia draws the toughest matchups and is played hard every night, yet she has still produced at an elite level. Her recognition as Player of the Year is incredibly well deserved."

Simpson's Coach of the Year honor comes after guiding the Cadets to a flawless conference campaign and the program's first-ever LEC regular season and tournament championships.

"This award truly reflects our entire program and the collective effort that goes into our success each day," Simpson said. "Our coaching staff, support staff, and players have all committed themselves fully to this team and to one another. Our players have been incredibly selfless, always putting their teammates and the team first, and that commitment is a big reason we've been able to have such a special season."

Freshman defenseman Maggie Hunter also garnered national attention with her outstanding rookie campaign, earning LEC Rookie of the Year honors. Hunter ranks sixth in the nation in points by a defenseman and is the top-scoring first-year defenseman in the country, according to USCHO. She also ranks fourth nationally in assists by a defenseman and finished second in the LEC with 20 assists.

"Maggie had an outstanding first season of collegiate hockey," Simpson said. "Producing nearly a point per game as a defender is incredibly impressive and speaks to the impact she has on the game at both ends of the ice."

Norwich's depth was evident across the All-Conference teams, with six Cadets earning First-Team All-LEC honors. Brooks was joined by Olivia Boyer (Saint Paul, Minn.), Breanna Ricker (Laconia, N.H.), Geena Cookinham (Gilmanton, N.H.), Hunter, and Alex Leslie (Irishtown, N.B.).

The senior captain, Boyer, became the 13th player in program history to reach 100 career points while leading the conference with 21 assists and ranking among the LEC leaders in faceoff percentage. Ricker matched Brooks for the conference lead in goals and finished third in points (33) while earning LEC Tournament MVP honors after recording three goals and an assist during the championship run.

Cookinham made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season, ranking fifth nationally in points among first-year players and finishing third in the LEC in goals (14) and fourth in points (28). Leslie added another standout performance from the blue line, finishing second in the conference in scoring by a defenseman, including 16 assists, while helping quarterback the LEC's top power play unit at 30.7 percent.

Three additional Cadets earned Second-Team All-LEC honors, including Anna Lisac (Euclid, Ohio), Lauren Tuzik (Frankfort, Ill.), and Madison Brunet (Timmins, Ont.). Lisac ranked second in the conference in faceoff percentage (60.3%) while scoring 11 goals. Tuzik helped anchor a Norwich penalty kill unit that leads the LEC at 93.5 percent, while Brunet posted one of the top goaltending seasons in Division III. The senior netminder ranks second nationally in goals-against average (0.91) and has recorded eight shutouts, the second-most in Division III, helping Norwich lead the nation with 13 team shutouts.

The Cadets also placed three players on the LEC All-Rookie Team, with Cookinham, Hunter, and Ellin Rees (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) earning recognition.

"It's incredible to see so many of our players recognized by the LEC with all-conference honors," Simpson said. "Having six First Team selections, three Second Team selections, and three players on the All-Rookie Team is a true reflection of the season our program has had. What stands out even more is the balance across our roster — three seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and three first-years — all recognized. That speaks to the depth of our team, and the impact players from every class have made."

With the conference championship secured, Norwich now turns its attention to the national stage. The Cadets earned a first-round bye to the NCAA Quarterfinals and will host the winner of the Hamline/Endicott first-round matchup on March 21 at 3 p.m.