Hobart College hockey senior Mac Olson (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) was named one of nine finalists for the 2015-16 Sid Watson Award, which is given annually to the best NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey player in the country.
All nine finalists were voted Player of the Year in their conference and four, including Olson, have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. The recipient of this year’s award will be announced on Thursday, March 24, during the championship banquet in Lake Placid, N.Y.
A captain and starter in all 27 games this season, Olson ranks second on the team with 27 points on 13 goals and 14 assists. He posted three points on two goals and an assist in a 6-1 win over Manhattanville and notched a season-high four points on a hat trick and an assist in a 5-3 win over Nazareth. Olson produced the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Skidmore. He ranks third in the ECAC West in points, fifth in goals, and tied for fifth in assists. Olson is also tied for fifth in the nation with two short-handed goals this season.
Olson earned a spot on the All-ECAC West first team this year and second team honors as a sophomore. He was also named to the conference all-rookie team in 2012-13. Olson has played in 102 career games and has registered 45 goals and 50 assists for 95 career points.
The other eight finalists are Charlie Adams (Hamline), Tyler Beasleyt (Nichols), Stephen Collins (Geneseo), Erik Cooper (St. Norbert), Tyler Green (UW-Eau Claire), Zander Masucci (Williams), Jamie Murray (Babson) and Marcus Zelzer (Salem 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.
