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UMass Hockey Players Score Big with Hockey East All-Academic Honors
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AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts (UMass) hockey program is celebrating remarkable academic performance, with 20 players named to the Hockey East 2024-25 Men’s All-Academic Team. The Hockey East league office made the announcement on Wednesday, recognizing the Minutemen among a record-breaking 221 student-athletes who maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher during each academic period while actively competing.
Top scholar-Athletes shine
adding to the accolades, four UMass players received the prestigious title of Hockey East’s Top Scholar-athlete, achieving the highest GPA at their respective positions. These outstanding individuals have also been selected for the 2024-25 Hockey East academic All-Star Team.
- Graduate student defenseman Linden Alger
- Freshman defenseman Finn Loftus
- Freshman forward james Duerr
- Freshman forward Cam Dunn
Did You Know? A perfect GPA is a 4.0,and maintaining a 3.0 or higher while competing in collegiate athletics requires significant dedication and time management skills.
Repeat Academic All-Stars
Linden Alger stands out, recognized for his fifth consecutive year of academic excellence, a feat matched by only one other individual in the league. Several other Minutemen have also demonstrated consistent academic prowess.
Junior forward Michael Cameron,senior forward Ryan Lautenbach,junior defenseman owen Murray,and junior defenseman Kennedy O’Connor have all earned All-academic Team honors for the third time in their careers.
Sophomore forward Bo Cosman, sophomore goaltender Michael Hrabal, and sophomore goaltender Jackson Irving are being recognized for the second time.
First-Time Honorees Join the Ranks
A significant number of UMass hockey players are receiving All-Academic recognition for the first time, highlighting the program’s commitment to academic success across all class years.
The first-time honorees include freshman defenseman Francesco Dell’elce, freshman forward James Duerr, freshman forward Cam Dunn, freshman forward Daniel Jencko, freshman defenseman Larry Keenan, freshman defenseman Charlie Lieberman, freshman defenseman Finn Loftus, sophomore forward Jack musa, graduate student forward Joey Musa, freshman goaltender James Norton, junior defenseman Lucas Olvestad, and sophomore forward Nick VanTassell.
Pro Tip: Balancing rigorous athletic training with demanding academic coursework requires exceptional discipline and support from academic advisors and coaching staff.
UMass Hockey All-Academic Team Honorees
| Player Name | Position | Year | All-Academic Honors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden Alger | Defenseman | Graduate Student | 5th Time |
| Finn Loftus | Defenseman | Freshman | 1st Time |
| James Duerr | Forward | Freshman | 1st Time |
| Cam Dunn | Forward | Freshman | 1st Time |
| Michael Cameron | Forward | Junior | 3rd Time |
| Ryan Lautenbach | Forward | Senior | 3rd Time |
| Owen Murray | Defenseman | Junior | 3rd Time |
| Kennedy O’Connor | Defenseman | Junior | 3rd Time |
| Bo Cosman | Forward | Sophomore | 2nd Time |
| Michael Hrabal | Goaltender | Sophomore | 2nd Time |
| Jackson Irving | Goaltender | Sophomore | 2nd time |
| Francesco Dell’Elce | Defenseman | Freshman | 1st time |
| Daniel Jencko | Forward | Freshman | 1st Time |
| Larry Keenan | Defenseman | Freshman | 1st Time |
| charlie Lieberman | Defenseman | Freshman | 1st Time |
| Jack Musa | Forward | Sophomore | 1st Time |
| Joey Musa | Forward | Graduate Student | 1st Time |
| James Norton | Goaltender | Freshman | 1st Time |
| Lucas Olvestad | Defenseman | Junior | 1st Time |
| Nick VanTassell | Forward | Sophomore | 1st Time |
The Importance of Academic excellence in College Athletics
Academic success is a crucial component of the overall college experience for student-athletes. Balancing the demands of rigorous training schedules with challenging coursework requires exceptional time management, discipline, and dedication. Universities and athletic conferences like Hockey East recognize and celebrate these achievements through All-Academic teams and scholar-athlete awards.These accolades not only honor individual accomplishments but also highlight the commitment of athletic programs to fostering a culture of academic excellence. Furthermore, academic success can open doors to future opportunities for student-athletes, both on and off the ice. A
