The American Hockey Coaches Association announced the finalists for its postseason honors earlier this week and the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association has nominees in each of the four categories: the Sid Watson Award (Men’s Player of the Year), the Laura Hurd Award (Women’s Player of the Year), the Edward Jeremiah Award (Men’s Coach of the Year) and the Women’s Coach of the Year.

See below for the press releases from the AHCA website (www.ahcahockey.com).

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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR SID WATSON AWARD AHCA MEN'S ICE HOCKEY COLLEGE DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Eight players who have distinguished themselves on the ice in 2013-14 have been named finalists for the 2014 Sid Watson Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III men's ice hockey player in the country. Three of the finalists have advanced to the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey semifinals being played this weekend at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. They are junior goaltender David Jacobson of St. Norbert College, juniorforward Garrett Ladd of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, and andsenior forward Zachary Vit of Geneseo State.

Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Watson Award honors the memory of former Bowdoin College head coach and athletic director Sid Watson. A three-time AHCA Coach of the Year, Watson served Bowdoin for more than 30 years, winning 326 games in 24 seasons as head coach.

The recipient of this year's Watson Award will be announced this Thursday, March 20, during the 2014 NCAA Division III Men's Championship student-athlete banquet in Lewiston, Maine.

2013-2014 Finalists for the Sid Watson Award

Jackson Brewer, Junior, Forward, Trinity College
(Newton, Massachusetts) NESCAC Player of the Year

Drew Fielding, Junior, Goalie, University of St. Thomas
(Burlington, Ontario) MIAC Co-Player of the Year

David Jacobson, Junior, Goalie, St. Norbert College
(Janesville, Wisconsin) NCHA Player of the Year

Garrett Ladd, Junior, Forward, UW-Stevens Point
(Fenton, Michigan) WIAC Player of the Year

Jamie Murray, Sophomore, Goalie, Babson College
(Scituate, Massachusetts) ECAC East Player of the Year

Josh Obregon, Sophomore, Forward, Johnson & Wales
(Omaha, Nebraska) ECAC Northeast Player of the Year

Caleb Suderman, Senior, Defenseman, Concordia (MN) College
(Winkler, Manitoba) MIAC Co-Player of the Year

Zachary Vit, Senior, Forward, Geneseo State
(Villanova, Pennsylvania) SUNYAC Player of the Year

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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR LAURA HURD AWARD AHCA WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY COLLEGE DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Six players who have distinguished themselves on the ice in 2013-14 have been named finalists for the 2014 Laura Hurd Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III women's ice hockey player in the country. The list of finalists includes two players who led their teams into the 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship in Plattsburgh, NY, this weekend. They are Sydney Aveson, a senior goaltender from Plattsburgh State, and Tori Charron, a senior forward from Norwich University.

Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Hurd Award honors the memory of former Elmira College standout Laura Hurd. A 2005 graduate of Elmira, and a four-time All-American, Hurd died in an automobile accident shortly after graduation. She was the recipient of the AHCA Player of the Year Award in 2005.

The recipient of this year's Hurd Award will be announced this Thursday evening during the student-athlete banquet at the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship in Plattsburgh, NY.

Finalists for the 2013-14 Laura Hurd Award

AHCA Women's Ice Hockey College Division Player of the Year

Sydney Aveson, Senior, Goaltender, Plattsburgh State
(West Covina, California) 2013-14 ECAC West Player of the Year

Cristina Bravi, Senior, Forward, Williams College
(Montreal, Quebec) 2013-14 NESCAC Player of the Year

Tori Charron, Senior, Forward, Norwich University
(Tecumseh, Ontario)* 2013-14 ECAC East Player of the Year

Michelle Greeneway, Sophomore, Forward, Lake Forest College
(Sheboygan, Wisconsin) 2013-14 NCHA Player of the Year

Cristina Masten, Senior, Forward, Bethel College
(Fergus Falls, Minnesota) 2013-14 MIAC Player of the Year

Cassandra Salmen, Senior, Forward, UW-Stevens Point
(Stillwater, Minnesota) 2013-14 WIAC Player of the Year

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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR AHCA MEN'S HOCKEY DIVISION III COACH OF THE YEAR

Thirteen coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success in 2013-14 have been named finalists for the Edward Jeremiah Award, given annually to the College Division (NCAA Division III) Men's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Named in honor of the former Dartmouth head coach, the Jeremiah Award will be presented during the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Convention on Saturday, May 3, in Naples, FL.

The nominees represent any coach who won or shared Coach of the Year honors in his conference this past season, along with coaches whose teams have advanced to the 2014 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship. Of this year's finalists, two were past recipients: Ed Gosek of Oswego (2007) and Tim Coghlin of St. Norbert (2008). Among the four NCAA semifinalists, only Chris Schultz of Geneseo was also his conference's Coach of the Year recipient this season.

The winner will be announced Thursday evening at the student-athlete banquet at the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championships being played this weekend at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.

2013-14 AHCA Men's Ice Hockey
Edward Jeremiah Award (Division III Coach of the Year) Finalists

Jeff Boeser, St. Thomas—MIAC Coach of the Year
Chris Brooks, UW-Stevens Point—NCAA Semifinalist
T.J. Brown, Framingham State—MASCAC Coach of the Year
Tim Coghlin, St. Norbert — NCAA Semifinalist*
Steve Freeman, UW-River Falls — WIAC Coach of the Year
Ed Gosek, Oswego—NCAA Semifinalist*
Ken Hutchins, So. New Hampshire—Northeast-10 Coach of the Year
Ryan McKelvie, Lake Forest—NCHA Coach of the Year
Jamie Rice, Babson—ECAC East Coach of the Year
Aaron Saul, Elmira —ECAC West Coach of the Year
Chris Schultz, Geneseo—SUNYAC Coach of the Year & NCAA Semifinalist
R.J. Tolan, Wentworth—ECAC Northeast Coach of the Year
Jim Ward, Connecticut College — NESCAC Coach of the Year
* Past Jeremiah Award Winner

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FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR AHCA WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY COLLEGE DIVISION COACH OF THE YEAR

Ten coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success in 2013-14 have been named finalists for the AHCA College Division (NCAA Division III) Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award. The award will be presented during the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Convention Friday, May 2, in Naples, FL. The finalists includes four-time winner Kevin Houle of Plattsburgh (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013) and three-time recipient Mark Bolding of Norwich (2010, 2011 and 2012).

To be considered a finalist, you must either be named Coach of the Year at the conference level or advance to the national championship semifinals. The winner will be announced Thursday evening during the student-athlete banquet at the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship in Plattsburgh, NY.

2013-14 AHCA Women's Ice Hockey
College Division Coach of the Year Finalists

Mark Bolding, Norwich—NCAA Semifinalist*
Joe Cranston, UW-River Falls— NCAA Semifinalist
Meghan Gillis, Williams — NESCAC Coach of the Year
Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh—ECAC West Coach of the Year & NCAA Semifinalist*
Jamie Kivi, Marian—NCHA Tri-Coach of the Year
Kerstin Matthews, Saint Anselm — ECAC East Coach of the Year
Rob Morgan, St. Norbert —NCHA Tri-Coach of the Year
Ann Ninnemann, UW-Stevens Point —WIAC Coach of the Year
Tom Palkowski, St. Thomas — MIAC Coach of the Year and NCAA Semifinalist
Carisa Zaban, Lake Forest—NCHA Tri-Coach of the Year
*Previous Winner