Although the Penn State ACHA Division I Icers' season ended more than two weeks ago, the team has begun the postseason awards campaign.
In addition to earning a number of accolades at the completion of the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League playoffs on March 1, the Icers are well represented on the recently released ACHA postseason award list.
"[In] league awards I thought we had a great year," said Icers coach Scott Balboni, who earned his second ESCHL Head Coach of the Year award in three seasons. "We had two first-team all league. It was a great year -- we played great hockey and obviously it showed through."
Senior forward Luke DeLorenzo and senior defenseman Steve Thurston both made the ESCHL first team. The two were joined by second-team forward Tim O'Brien, a sophomore.
DeLorenzo made the team thanks to his 21 goals and 23 assists despite missing six games to participate in the World University Games in Harbin, China. Thurston tallied 16 goals (11 on power plays) and 17 assists while providing Penn State with a shut-down defensive presence.
"Steve was one of our go-to guys all year long," Balboni said. "He was one of those guys we relied on both offense and defense. Luke has always been one of our premier players. He missed time throughout the year, but he's the epitome of what this team's about."
But the awards don't end with the trio of DeLorenzo, Thurston and O'Brien.
Following the ACHA National Tournament's completion on March 18, Thurston and team captain Frank Berry were named to the ACHA second team.
"He doesn't get as much credit as he deserves, but I think he's one of our best players," DeLorenzo said of Thurston. "I just can't say enough about him -- I'd definitely go to battle with him any day."
Off the ice, Penn State led the ACHA with nine academic All-Americans, the second year in a row the Icers have set the national standard in that category. Thurston picked up his third honor and was joined by Berry, DeLorenzo, defensemen Scott Dakan and Brent Tranter, forwards Matt Kirstein, Brandon Rubeo and Steve Peck, and goalie Nick Signet.
Balboni said the academic awards were especially meaningful. He said the team had several players who had GPAs between 3.8 and 4.0 but did not qualify for the honor. The team's cumulative GPA currently sits at 3.3.
"It's our mantra -- academic, family and hockey, and it runs in that order," Balboni said. "None of our guys are going to the NHL, so the focus is to get a great education and set yourself up for the rest of your life. We talk about it many times throughout the year. This will remain an academic-first program."
Kirstein, a finance major, agreed with his coach's assessment of academics.
"I think the culture on our team is academics are important," Kirstein said.
"We do well in school, we always send updates to our teachers. I think it's an overall culture on our team and guys really strive to get good grades."
