CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — ECAC Hockey has announced three finalists for the 2023 Howies Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman Award, naming Zach Metsa (Quinnipiac), Travis Mitchell (Cornell), and Henry Thrun (Harvard).
The award, annually given to the ECAC Hockey defender considered by coaches to be the most defensively sound, has been handed out first from 1962-67, and then every year since 1993. Most recently, active Quinnipiac defender and captain Zach Metsa received the honor at the conclusion of the 2022 season.
The winner of the award will be announced in conjunction with the 2023 ECAC Hockey Men’s Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 16, ahead of the 2023 ECAC Hockey Men’s Tournament in Lake Placid.
Zach Metsa (Gr., Quinnipiac)
Bobcats captain Zach Metsa has led one of the best defensive units in the league and in the country this season, playing an integral role in a historic season that saw the Bobcats become the first team to 20 league wins in more than thirty years.
Through 22 games during his fifth season in the navy and gold, Metsa has been critical on the back end, helping the Bobcats to a league-low 30 goals against, an average of just 1.36 goals against per game. The team shut out league opponents six times, and Metsa blocked 15 shots en route to the team’s third straight Cleary Cup title as regular season champions.
Travis Mitchell (Sr., Cornell)
Big Red captain Travis Mitchell has played a valuable role on the back end of one of the top teams in the league and in the country this season. He was a leader on the team both in the locker room and on the ice, where he blocked a team-high 32 shots and logged valuable minutes on the penalty kill.
Mitchell played in all 22 regular season league contests for the Big Red, helping the team to a 15-6-1 record and playing an integral role in blocking shots and stopping opponents from converting. Under Mitchell, the Cornell back end allowed just 42 goals against, good for the second lowest in the league.
Henry Thrun (Sr., Harvard)
Crimson captain Henry Thrun has played an important role as leader of one of the league’s top defensive units. Through just 21 regular season league games played, Thrun has blocked 21 shots, good for second on the team, and logged impressive minutes on both the power play and the penalty kill.
Thrun played a critical role in Harvard’s second place finish league-wide and in their ascent through the national rankings. WIth an 18-4-0 record and one of the league’s only teams to remain undefeated when faced with overtime, Thrun helped the Crimson generate a potent offense and keep the back end locked down, allowing just 48 goals against, good for third lowest in the league.
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