UTICA, N.Y. – The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced its NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey All-Americans on Wednesday night, with Norwich junior defenseman Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, Ont.) earning Second-Team honors.

Bertrand becomes the 53rd All-American in program history, and the first Cadet to receive the distinction since goaltender Drennen Atherton in 2023. He is also the first Norwich defenseman to earn All-American recognition since Devon Becker '22.

"Coop has been a leader on and off the ice since day one," said Head Coach Dominick Dawes. "His character and leadership embody exactly what a Norwich Hockey player should strive to be. There isn't anyone more deserving of the honor of All-American."

A steady and reliable two-way presence on the blue line, Bertrand capped an outstanding junior campaign as the team's fourth-leading scorer while pacing Norwich with 41 blocked shots, ranking sixth in the Little East Conference (LEC). He also finished sixth in the conference with 19 assists.

The junior captain played a pivotal role in Norwich's postseason success, recording two points in the LEC Championship victory over Babson and adding an assist in the Cadets' NCAA First Round win against Salve Regina.

Bertrand anchored one of the top defensive units in the conference, helping Norwich lead the LEC in scoring defense (2.00 GAA) while finishing among the league's top five in both power play and penalty kill efficiency. His efforts earned him First-Team All-Conference honors, marking his second consecutive first-team nod after previously being recognized in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) as a sophomore.

In addition to his success on the ice, Bertrand also enjoyed a standout fall season, earning Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Golfer of the Year honors.
Behind Bertrand's leadership, Norwich captured its first conference championship in six seasons, sweeping both the inaugural LEC Regular Season and Tournament titles. The
Cadets returned to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the national quarterfinals, finishing among the final eight teams in the country.