BEVERLY, Mass. (3/5/2025) – Freshman
Ryan Austin of the Nichols College men's hockey team has been named the Conference of New England (CNE) Rookie of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon. Austin and senior
Nathan Carl, both saw themselves on the All-Conference Third Team.
Austin is the first Rookie of the Year since J. B. Baker '19, '20 won the Rookie of the Year in the 2016-17 season. Austin becomes the fifth Rookie of the Year honoree for the Bison in program history and the first defender to earn the honor.
"I am extremely happy for Ryan and his family. He is one of the hardest working players I've seen and this award is a testament to that." Head Coach
Alex Gacek added, "He is very liked in our locker-room, and every time he comes to the rink he wants to get better. He was a big part of our team's success and I am excited to keep watching him grow as a player, person, and student."
Austin finished his first season on "the hill" with four goals scored and nine assists for 13 points in 26 games on the blue line. Eight of Austin's point came on the power-play as well with a goal and seven assists with the extra attacker. He also added a short-handed goal as well.
The Rochester, N.Y. native, posted three multi-point games, including scoring his first collegiate goal and adding an assist against Rivier this season. He also scored the game winning goal in overtime against Western New England in a 3-2 win. Austin earned two Rookie of the Week honors this season on his way to the Rookie of the Year honor.
Carl finished the season second in points with eight goals and eight assists for 16 points. He scored a team high two game winning goals, while recording seven power-play points and a short-handed goal. He was 50% from the dot this season with a team high 226 face-offs won, a team high and good for third conference wide. The honor is Carl's second All-Conference honor, who also landed on the Third Team in the 2021-22 season.
Austin and Carl join former teammate
Sebastian Miedema, who landed on the All-Conference Third Team last season as a defender. The duo is the first since 2019-20 for Nichols with multiple honorees.
Two-year senior captain
Luke Harvie is the team's community service representative. Harvie finished the season with one goal and added six assists for seven points in his final season with the Bison.
