Shea Picked as Walter Brown Award Semifinalist
2/7/2023 1:01:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
One of just two AHA players selected
BOSTON (February 7, 2023) – Senior forward Neil Shea (Marshfield, Mass.) of the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team has been named as a semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award, as announced on Monday by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. The award is presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.
Per United States College Hockey Online: "The nation's oldest nationally-recognized college hockey honor, the Walter Brown Award was established in 1953 by the members of the 1933 Massachusetts Rangers, the first American team ever to win the World Championship Tournament. Brown coached the Rangers to the title in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where the team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the championship game."
Shea has appeared in all 27 games for the Pios this season and leads the squad in scoring, with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists. He has scored three power-play goals and one game-winner, and leads the team in shots as well, with 88. The 14 assists are tied-seventh in Atlantic Hockey, and Shea is fifth in the league in shots per game (3.26).
Shea is one of 25 players named as a semifinalist for the award by the Gridiron Club. He was one of just two Atlantic Hockey players on the list, as he was joined by senior forward Blake Bennett of American International. The winner of the 71st Walter Brown Award will be announced in the last week of March.
Shea and the rest of the Pios (14-11-2, 12-5-2 AHA) are home three times this week, beginning with a Tuesday night tilt against Army. SHU will then host Air Force on Friday and Saturday. All three games are set for 7 p.m. at Martire Family Arena.
