BOSTON, MA - Dave Clausen and Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) of the Utica University women's hockey team have been announced as American Hockey Coaches Association candidates for their strong 2022-2023 campaigns. Clausen is a finalist for Coach of the Year and Sloan is a finalist for Player of the Year.
 
Ten coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success in 2022-23 have been named finalists for the CCM/AHCA NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award. The award will be announced on March 16 and presented on Thursday, April 27 at the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. The finalists include six-time winner Kevin Houle of Plattsburgh (2006, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016). Three of the finalists were finalists a year ago: Mike Carroll of Gustavus Adolphus College, Taylor Wasylk of Suffolk University, and Houle. To be considered a finalist, one must either be named Coach of the Year at the conference level or advance to the NCAA Frozen Four.
 
Eleven players who have distinguished themselves on the ice in 2022-23 have been named finalists for the 2023 Laura Hurd Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III women's ice hockey player in the country. The list of finalists includes two finalists from 2022: Suffolk University graduate student Shana Cote and UW-Eau Claire senior Sophie Rausch. Both are forwards. Ten come from the United States, including two from Wasilla, AK. It is an experienced group, with 10 seniors and one graduate student. There are eight forwards, two defenders and one goaltender. Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Hurd Award honors the memory of former Elmira College standout Laura Hurd. A 2005 graduate of Elmira, and a four-time All-American, Hurd died in an automobile accident shortly after graduation. She was the recipient of the AHCA Player of the Year Award in 2005. The recipient of this year's Hurd Award will be announced on Thursday, March 16.
 
Dave Clausen won UCHC Coach of the Year after leading the team to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first UCHC Championship game in program history. It was Clausen's second UCHC Coach of the Year honor after being named UCHC Co-Coach of the Year in 2020-21. The veteran led the team to a 22-3-3 record including a 17-1-2 conference record and .900 conference win percentage. The team boasted an incredible 23-game point streak during the season. Clausen led the team to a comeback 2-2 draw against No. 7 Hamilton College and the team to the two-seed in the conference tournament. Under Clausen, the team qualified for its first UCHC Championship game in program history before ultimately falling to Nazareth College in overtime. 
 
Erica Sloan (Potsdam, NY/St. Lawrence Steel) had a phenomenal season which earned her UCHC Player of the Year and All-UCHC First Team honors. The senior led the UCHC with an incredible 45 points including recording at least one point in 25 of the team's 28 games this season. Her 45 points are the sixth most in program history in a single season. Sloan also ranks top-ten in single season history in points per game, goals per game, and total goals. The Potsdam, NY native was second in the conference with 24 goals and fourth with 21 assists. These are Sloan's second and third All-UCHC honors after receiving first team honors last season.