The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is pleased to announce its weekly award winners, released on February 19, 2024, for games played from February 12-February 18. The UCHC weekly awards program highlights the top performances from around the conference over each week of the regular season. It is the 14th and final UCHC weekly honors release of the 2023-24 season.
 
UCHC MEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Shane Murphy, Utica, Jr., F, Oriskany, NY
Murphy accounted for over 35 percent of Utica's goals this past weekend as the team swept visiting Arcadia. In Friday's 9-1 win, Murphy scored the game-tying goal at 4:42 of the first to jumpstart a 9-0 Pioneer run. His second goal created some separation in the second period as it put Utica ahead 3-1. In Saturday's 5-3 win, Murphy notched his second hat-trick of the season with all of his goals coming in timely fashion. His first score gave the team a 2-1 lead while his second also gave the team a lead, this time 3-2. His final tally of the afternoon put the game away at 5-3 with just 37 seconds to go in the contest. 

UCHC WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Erica Sloan, Utica, Gr., F, Potsdam, NY
Sloan's record setting weekend consisted of five points on three goals and two assists in what was a 2-0-0 weekend for Utica. With her three goals, Sloan brought her career total to 75, setting the new all-time program mark. In Wednesday's 10-1 win, Sloan scored one goal to come within two scores of becoming the program's all-time scoring leader. On Saturday, the captain registered four points on two goals and two assists. Her first goal of the game came shorthanded late in the first period to tie the all-time record before her power play goal early in the third put her atop the program's goal scoring list. She also assisted on the team's third and fifth goals.  
 
UCHC MEN’S GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Gabriel Pigeon, Lebanon Valley, Sr., G, Saint Remy, Quebec
Pigeon came up big on senior night as the senior goaltender recorded Lebanon Valley's first shutout of the year with 51 saves in a 4-0 victory over Alvernia to keep the Dutchmen alive for a possible UCHC playoff spot in his only action of the week. Pigeon extended the Dutchmen's winning streak to four games with 16 saves in the first period, 13 in the second, and then an amazing 22 saves in the third period.
 
UCHC WOMEN’S CO-GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Hannah Bergeron, Arcadia, Jr., G, Leominster, MA
Bergeron picked up two wins and a shutout as she helped Arcadia clinch its first home playoff game in program history. She made 67 saves across the two victories over Chatham. To open the weekend, she made 31 saves in a convincing, 6-1 for Arcadia. Then, in the Knights' 3-0 win over the Cougars, she made 36 saves, 16 of them coming in the third period to pick up her fifth shutout and 10th victory of the year, which are both personal bests. 
 
UCHC WOMEN’S CO-GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Audrey Milne, Wilkes, Fr., G, London, Ontario
Milne helped the Colonels go 1-0-1 to close the regular season in a series against Alvernia. She totaled 48 saves on 50 shots for a .960 save percentage and a 0.96 goals-against-average. The first year goaltender made 35 saves including four in overtime to earn a 1-1 tie for Wilkes at Alvernia on Friday. Milne won her 13th game of the season on Saturday as the Colonels defeated the Golden Wolves 3-1 at home. Milne made 13 saves in the win. It is Milne’s fourth UCHC weekly honor of the season.

UCHC MEN’S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Ryan McKenna, Manhattanville, Fr., F, Spokane, WA
McKenna tallied three points and won 25 faceoffs for the Valiants in their weekend series against King's. He scored a goal and won 17 draws in Friday's victory over the Monarchs. On Saturday, McKenna returned to the scoresheet in, scoring his eighth goal of the year and earning his seventh assist while winning eight more face-offs.
 
UCHC WOMEN’S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Abby Smith, Stevenson, Fr., F, Essex, VT
Smith is coming off of a five-point weekend against Neumann. On Friday at home, Smith assisted on the Mustangs first and fifth goals before scoring Stevenson’s seventh and final goal. In game two at Neumann, Smith scored on the power-play for the first goal of the game, then assisted on Emma DeMan’s power-play goal in the third. Smith finishes her rookie campaign with nine points.

ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its seventh season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.