ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A nationwide pandemic has altered the course of collegiate athletics since the month of March, but the effects of COVID-19 did not stop the presentation of Elmira College's athletics awards. Over a four-day stretch, the Department of Athletics has recognized student-athletes, teams, and staff members for their successes on and off the field of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. The awards presentation comes to a close today, as the College announced the recipients of the prestigious 2019-20 EC Athlete of the Year Awards to
Connor Powell '20 and
Emma Crocker '21.
It marked the second consecutive season that Powell, a senior member of the men's ice hockey team, has earned the College's top individual award as he became the first student-athlete to repeat as the Athlete of the Year since 2012. Crocker, on the other hand, solidified Athlete of the Year honors for the first time in her career and is the third consecutive women's ice hockey player to secure the accolade.
On the ice, Powell was a force to be reckoned with throughout his four-year career, and the 2019-20 campaign was no different. In 26 games this season, the Merrimack, New Hampshire, native produced the second-most points of any Soaring Eagle with 34 (12g-22a). A timely scorer and distributor of the puck, Powell's skills shined on the power play as he tied for fifth in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) in power-play points with 19 (5g-14a). His efforts with the extra-skater helped Elmira finish the season with the nation's top power-play percentage (35.1%) and secure the NCAA statistical title in that category.
Powell's efforts did not go unnoticed by the coaches of the UCHC, as he was selected to the All-UCHC First Team for a second consecutive year. As Elmira's lone All-UCHC First Teamer, Powell guided the Purple and Gold to a 17-8-1 overall record – EC's highest win total since 2011 – with a 13-5-0 mark against league opponents. The senior winger concluded his collegiate career with 141 points on 64 goals and 77 assists.
Crocker enjoyed what can only be described as a breakout season for the women's ice hockey team in 2019-20 as she collected AHCA/CCM First-Team All-America, All-USCHO First Team, UCHC Player of the Year, UCHC All-Tournament Team, and All-UCHC First Team accolades. The Abington, Massachusetts, native produced career highs across the board in points (44), goals (21), assists (23), power-play goals (7), and game-winning goals (6), all of which placed her inside the top five of the UCHC.
On the national stage, Crocker ranked among the best in Division III during her third year with the Soaring Eagles. She was third in points per game (1.57), seventh in goals per game (0.75), seventh in power-play goals (7), and 13th in assists per game (0.82). Crocker also tied for the national lead in game-winning goals, and thus earned a share of the 2020 NCAA statistical championship for that category. Crocker's impact on the Soaring Eagles' offense was the driving force behind a 22-4-2 overall record, a third consecutive conference title, and an auto-bid into the 2020 NCAA Division III Championships.
Here is the full list of award winners from the 2019-20 academic year:
2019-20 INDIVIDUAL & TEAM AWARDS
For full bios for each of the 2019-20 individual and team award winners, please
click here.
BOOSTER CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
For full bios of each 2019-20 Booster Club Player of the Year, please
click here.
Awards week is not over yet. On Friday, May 22, the Department of Athletics will unveil its annual highlight reel video at 1:00 p.m. with an assortment of top plays from throughout the year. Additionally, at 5:00 p.m., a special thank you to the Class of 2020 will be released. Both will be revealed via social media on the Soaring Eagles'
Facebook,
Twitter, and
Instagram accounts.
