WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Matt Hennessey of Anna Maria and Christian Halbig of Fitchburg State have been voted as the 2025-26 MASCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Player and Defensive Player of the Year and headline this year’s All-Conference teams as voted on by the coaches from around the conference prior to the conference tournament. 

 

Hennessey, a junior from Warman, Saskatchewan, was dominant in goal for the Regular Season Champion AMCATS who finished 12-1-1 in MASCAC play. He led the conference in goals against average with 1.83, save percentage at .945, wins with 17 and win percentage at .818. Over his season, he only allowed 42 goals in 23 games while totaling 723 saves. His save percentage is currently fifth best in Division III while he has the eighth best winning percentage and 12th best GAA nationally.

 

Halbig, a graduate from Queenstown, Md., was tabbed as this year’s Defensive Player of the Year after helping the Falcons to a 10-4 record and second seed in the tournament. He closed out the regular season first with 26 assists and fourth with a +23 rating. He also netted two-goal with one on the power play. As a team, the Falcons had an 83 percent power play kill percentage while only giving up 2.41 goals per game and 63 goals total.  

 

Earning the 2025-26 MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors is Devin Niles of Fitchburg State. The freshman forward from Hatfield, Mass., was a solid offensive presence for the Falcons, leading the league in goals with 17, points with 39 and a +32 rating. He collected 22 assists, three power play goals and two game-winners on the year. His points per game average has him eighth in Division III while his goals per game average puts him 15th currently. 

 

After leading the AMCATS to their first MASCAC Regular Season title and top seed in the tournament, David McCauley of Anna Maria was voted the 2025-26 BSN Sports Coach of the Year by his peers.

 

Joining Hennessey and Halbig on first team are Braedon McKinnon of Anna Maria, Hunter Dunn of Fitchburg State and Cooper Board of Westfield State at forward and Pearce Baker of Anna Maria on defense.

 

Landing on the MASCAC Second Team with Niles is Owen Barrow of Anna Maria and Aleksei Filimonov of Fitchburg State at forward, Aren Francis of Salem State and Raphael Seguin of Westfield State on defense and Frederick Soderberg of Fitchburg State in goal.