Plattsburgh, NY — The Elmira College women’s ice hockey team will be adding three more banners to their already decorated wall of All-Americans, as Ashley Ryan ’15, Ashton Hogan ’15, and Brooke Wilgosh ’15 received AHCA First Team All-American accolades. Elmira’s three AHCA First Team All-American selections marks the third time in program history that EC has had three players named to the first team, with other two times occurring during the 2008-09 and 2004-05 seasons.
“Having three on the first team out of five slots is something quite significant” said Head Coach Dean Jackson ’03, who was also named the STX/AHCA Division III Coach of the Year. “I think it’s a testament to our program and the work ethic that we all put in. It really speaks volumes about the quality of players and people we have within our program.”
Ryan, who was also named the 2015 National Player of the Year, received her second consecutive AHCA First Team All-American honor of her four-year career. Also named the 2015 ECAC West Conference Player of the Year, Ryan has had one of the most prolific seasons in EC history in 2014-15 as she has amassed 59 points on 18 goals and an Elmira College record-tying 41 assists.
Her 59 points are the most in NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey this season and are the second-highest total by an Elmira player in program history, second only to Laura Hurd. Ryan’s 41 assists are also tops in the country and one shy of tying the NCAA single-season record for assists.
Hogan, who received AHCA All-American honors for the first time in her four-year career, has been instrumental in Elmira’s success in 2014-15. Hogan’s 31 goals leads the nation, making her the only 30-goal scorer in NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey. Her 31 goals are third most in Elmira history and are two away from moving into a two-way tie with Laura Hurd for the second spot.
Hogan has shown that she can score in a variety of situations, as she has tallied nine power-play goals, which is tied for fifth on the EC single-season leaderboard, an Elmira College record-setting six shorthanded goals, and six game-winning goals which is tied for third in program history.
Wilgosh, a two-time ECAC West Defensive Player of the Year, earned her second AHCA First Team All-American honor of her four-year career. Throughout her collegiate career, Wilgosh has proved to be one of the most lethal offensive-defenseman in Elmira’s storied history, as she sits on 99 career points entering today’s NCAA Semifinal game, the most points scored by an EC defenseman in program history.
With 37 points on five goals and 32 assists this season, Wilgosh is the leading defensemen point scorer in the country by a wide margin, 13 points, as the next closest defenseman has 24. In the scope of all skaters, forwards and defenders, Wilgosh’s 37 points are tied for 15th in the country, making her the only defenseman to rank inside the top 50.
“I’m really proud of the personal accolades and accomplishments for Ashley, Ashton, and Brooke” stated Jackson. “I think they are very well deserved. They were statistical leaders all season; they were certainly front-runners and definitely deserved the All-American nomination.”
All three of Elmira’s AHCA First Team All-Americans will look lead Elmira to their fourth NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey National Championship in program history, which begins with a semifinal matchup against No. 3 University of Wisconsin-River Falls today, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. at the Stafford Ice Arena in Plattsburgh, NY. Tickets prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students.
