March 23, 2006
2005-06 Atlantic Hockey: Who's the Best?

By Ken McMillan

The debate takes place every year in bar rooms, locker rooms and dorm rooms.

"Who is the best?"

Inside College Hockey decided to poll the players and coaches in Atlantic Hockey about who are the top-skilled players in the league.

Naturally, the top teams in the league drew the most selections but there are eye-opening surprises throughout the 22 categories. Mercyhurst had 10 players honored (with 24 top-three selections), Sacred Heart had eight players honored (with 24 selections), Holy Cross had seven players honored (with a league-high 32 selections) and Bentley had seven players honored (with 11 selections).

Also, Connecticut had six players (15 selections), Canisius had five players (with nine selections), American International College had five players (with six selections) and Army had four players (with 14 selections).

The most-honored players were both Atlantic Hockey first-team picks: Pierre-Luc O’Brien of Sacred Heart (10 selections, seven first-place choices) and Tyler McGregor of Holy Cross (10 selections, five first-place choices). James Sixsmith of Holy Cross was chosen eight times, with three first-place votes.

Naturally, players and coaches view the game from different angles and perspectives, so the votes don’t always agree with one another. They did agree in 14 categories: best wrist shot and quickest release (McGregor, Holy Cross), most accurate shot, mot dangerous on a rush and smartest player (O’Brien, Sacred Heart), hardest-hitting forward (Seth Beamer, Army), best passer (Scott Champage, Mercyhurst), best stick-handler (Sixsmith, Holy Cross), fastest skater (Eric Johnson, Mercyhurst), best 1-on-1 defenseman (Conrad Martin, Mercyhurst), best power-play pointman (Jamie Hunt,
Mercyhurst), best penalty killer (Scott Reynolds, Mercyhurst), toughest 1-on-1 goalie (Brad Roberts, Army) and most underrated player (Blair Bartlett, Holy Cross).

Note: Ken McMillan also writes for the Times Herald-Record in Middletown, N.Y.

Voting procedure

Team captains from each of the eight schools submitted nominations from their own team. The complete ballot was returned to the eight schools, with the coaches and players submitting their own votes. Voting was conducted on a 5-3-1 point system for first-, second- and third-best players per category. Teams were not allowed to vote for their own players. The top three players in each category are listed. Where possible, tie-breakers were used based on most first-place votes and then most second-place votes.