Army West Point Athletics
Bilek Named Atlantic Hockey's Preseason Player of the Year
September 21, 2021 | Hockey
WEST POINT, N.Y. - After a breakout season as a junior, Army West Point Hockey team captain Colin Bilek has been named the Atlantic Hockey Association Preseason Player of the Year. The 2020-21 AHA First-Team Selection collected seven votes from AHA coaches to claim the top spot in the poll.Â
The Brighton, Mich. native also earned a spot on the Coaches' Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Team, taking one of the three forward spots. He opens the 2021-22 campaign as the AHA's active leader in power play goals (16), ranks fifth in points (62) and is tied for second in goals (32) among returning players. Last season, Bilek led the conference in goals (15) while finishing fifth in +/- (+11) and eight in points (21). Teammates Lincoln Hatten, Thomas Farrell and Anthony Firriolo all received votes in the poll.Â
In the annual coaches' poll, the Black Knights were picked to finish third in the conference. The Cadets finished second in the AHA with a 15-6-1 (10-4-1 AHA) record a season ago, which was fueled by a 13-game mid-season win streak.
Bilek and the Black Knights will begin their pursuit of an Atlantic Hockey Title on October 2nd when they travel to Rhode Island to take on the Providence College Friars in their season opener.Â
Follow AlongÂ
For more updates and information on Army Hockey follow the team on Instagram and Twitter and online at goarmywestpoint.com.Â
2021-22 Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team (1st Votes)         Points
1.        AIC (9)                90Â
2.        Canisius (1)            72
3.        Army West Point        69
4.        RIT                   64
5.        Sacred Heart           63
6t.       Niagara                50
6t.       Mercyhurst             50
8.        Bentley                35
9.       Air Force               28
10.    Holy Cross             19
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.
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Atlantic Hockey Coaches' Preseason Player of the Year (Votes)
Colin Bilek, Sr., F, Army West Point (7)
Others Receiving Votes: Will Calverley, Sr., F, RIT; Chris Theodore, R-Jr., F, AICÂ
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Atlantic Hockey Coaches' Preseason Rookie of the Year (Votes)
Jake Sibell, G, Niagara (3)
Others Receiving Votes: Jack Conroy, F, Air Force; Lucas Lindner, D, AIC; Reggie Millette, F, AIC; Evan Stella, D, AIC; Cooper Connell, F, Bentley; Jay Ahearn, F, Niagara; Connor Hutchison, D, Sacred HeartÂ
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Coaches' Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Team (Votes)
Coaches could not vote for their own players
Pos.  Name, Class, School
FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colin Bilek, Sr., Army West Point
FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Will Calverley, Sr., RIT
FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Randy Hernandez, So., Canisius
DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dan Willett, Gr., RIT
DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Drew Bavaro, So., Bentley
D (tie)Â Joseph Maziarz, Jr., Mercyhurst
GÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jacob Barczewski, Jr., Canisius
Others Receiving Votes
Forwards- Chris Theodore, R-Jr., AIC; Lincoln Hatten, So., Army West Point; Kaeaton Mastrodonato, Jr., Canisius; Carson Briere, So., Mercyhurst; Jake Hamacher, Sr., RIT; Braeden Tuck, So., Sacred Heart.
Defensemen- Zac Galambos, R-Jr., AIC; Brian Kramer, So., AIC; Parker Revering, Sr., AIC; Thomas Farrell, Jr., Army West Point; Anthony Firriolo, Sr., Army; Chris Harpur, Sr., Niagara.
Goaltenders- Jake Kucharsi, R-So., AIC
About the Atlantic Hockey AssociationÂ
The Atlantic Hockey Association is marking its 19th season of competition in 2021-22. The 10-team NCAA Division I conference consists of, American International College (Yellow Jackets), Bentley University (Falcons), Canisius College (Golden Griffins), The College of the Holy Cross (Crusaders), Mercyhurst University (Lakers), Niagara University (Purple Eagles), Rochester Institute of Technology (Tigers), Sacred Heart University (Pioneers), the United States Air Force Academy (Falcons) and the United States Military Academy (Black Knights). For more information, visit atlantichockeyonline.com.
The Brighton, Mich. native also earned a spot on the Coaches' Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Team, taking one of the three forward spots. He opens the 2021-22 campaign as the AHA's active leader in power play goals (16), ranks fifth in points (62) and is tied for second in goals (32) among returning players. Last season, Bilek led the conference in goals (15) while finishing fifth in +/- (+11) and eight in points (21). Teammates Lincoln Hatten, Thomas Farrell and Anthony Firriolo all received votes in the poll.Â
In the annual coaches' poll, the Black Knights were picked to finish third in the conference. The Cadets finished second in the AHA with a 15-6-1 (10-4-1 AHA) record a season ago, which was fueled by a 13-game mid-season win streak.
Bilek and the Black Knights will begin their pursuit of an Atlantic Hockey Title on October 2nd when they travel to Rhode Island to take on the Providence College Friars in their season opener.Â
Follow AlongÂ
For more updates and information on Army Hockey follow the team on Instagram and Twitter and online at goarmywestpoint.com.Â
2021-22 Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team (1st Votes)         Points
1.        AIC (9)                90Â
2.        Canisius (1)            72
3.        Army West Point        69
4.        RIT                   64
5.        Sacred Heart           63
6t.       Niagara                50
6t.       Mercyhurst             50
8.        Bentley                35
9.       Air Force               28
10.    Holy Cross             19
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.
Â
Atlantic Hockey Coaches' Preseason Player of the Year (Votes)
Colin Bilek, Sr., F, Army West Point (7)
Others Receiving Votes: Will Calverley, Sr., F, RIT; Chris Theodore, R-Jr., F, AICÂ
Â
Atlantic Hockey Coaches' Preseason Rookie of the Year (Votes)
Jake Sibell, G, Niagara (3)
Others Receiving Votes: Jack Conroy, F, Air Force; Lucas Lindner, D, AIC; Reggie Millette, F, AIC; Evan Stella, D, AIC; Cooper Connell, F, Bentley; Jay Ahearn, F, Niagara; Connor Hutchison, D, Sacred HeartÂ
Â
Coaches' Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Team (Votes)
Coaches could not vote for their own players
Pos.  Name, Class, School
FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colin Bilek, Sr., Army West Point
FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Will Calverley, Sr., RIT
FÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Randy Hernandez, So., Canisius
DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dan Willett, Gr., RIT
DÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Drew Bavaro, So., Bentley
D (tie)Â Joseph Maziarz, Jr., Mercyhurst
GÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jacob Barczewski, Jr., Canisius
Others Receiving Votes
Forwards- Chris Theodore, R-Jr., AIC; Lincoln Hatten, So., Army West Point; Kaeaton Mastrodonato, Jr., Canisius; Carson Briere, So., Mercyhurst; Jake Hamacher, Sr., RIT; Braeden Tuck, So., Sacred Heart.
Defensemen- Zac Galambos, R-Jr., AIC; Brian Kramer, So., AIC; Parker Revering, Sr., AIC; Thomas Farrell, Jr., Army West Point; Anthony Firriolo, Sr., Army; Chris Harpur, Sr., Niagara.
Goaltenders- Jake Kucharsi, R-So., AIC
About the Atlantic Hockey AssociationÂ
The Atlantic Hockey Association is marking its 19th season of competition in 2021-22. The 10-team NCAA Division I conference consists of, American International College (Yellow Jackets), Bentley University (Falcons), Canisius College (Golden Griffins), The College of the Holy Cross (Crusaders), Mercyhurst University (Lakers), Niagara University (Purple Eagles), Rochester Institute of Technology (Tigers), Sacred Heart University (Pioneers), the United States Air Force Academy (Falcons) and the United States Military Academy (Black Knights). For more information, visit atlantichockeyonline.com.
Players Mentioned
Saturday, November 10
Wednesday, November 07