WORCESTER, Mass. – Three Holy Cross men's ice hockey players earned 2022-23 Atlantic Hockey postseason awards, the league office announced on Monday, March 13.
 
Junior forward Jack Ricketts was named to the second team, while senior defenseman Nick Hale earned a third team selection. Freshman defenseman Mack Oliphant rounded out the selections with a spot on the All-Rookie team. These were the first All-Atlantic Hockey selections for Ricketts and Hale.

Ricketts dressed for all 26 Atlantic Hockey games for the Crusaders this season, recording 14 goals and 13 assists to tie for second in scoring in the conference with 27 points. During the Crusader's playoff push at the end of the regular season, Ricketts rattled off an eight-game point streak in a stretch that saw the team go 6-2-0. Rickett's four game-winning goals in conference play also tied him for first in the league.
 
In his breakout season this year, Ricketts led the Crusaders in conference play in goals (14), points (27), game winning goals (4), and overtime goals (2), while tying for the lead in assists (13). Every category was a career-high for Ricketts, who was named Atlantic Hockey Player for the Week for the first time in his career.

Hale recorded 15 points in his 21 conference games, leading all Crusader defensemen in scoring. His seven goals and 32 blocked shots this season was a career-high for the Crusader's captain, who was also a two-time Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week selection.
 
In his freshman season, Oliphant was a staple in the Crusader's lineup, playing in all 26 Atlantic Hockey games for Holy Cross. His 18 blocked shots in conference play tied him for fourth amongst Crusader defenseman, while his nine points was the third-most for a defenseman. He finished the conference slate with a +4 rating, good for sixth on the team.

Holy Cross (17-20-3, 12-12-2) will travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to face Canisius College in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, March 18, at the LECOM Harborcenter. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. and will stream live on FloHockey. The winner of the matchup will earn the Atlantic Hockey Association's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2022-23 Men's Ice Hockey All-Atlantic Hockey Teams
 
First Team
Carter Wilkie, RIT, So., F
Neil Shea, Sacred Heart, Sr., F
Blake Bennett, AIC, Sr., F
Gianfranco Cassaro, RIT, Sr., D
Aiden Hansen-Bukata, RIT, Jr., D
Tommy Scarfone, RIT, So., G
 
Second Team
Jack Ricketts, Holy Cross, Jr., F
Eric Esposito, Mercyhurst, Gr., F
Joey Baez, Army West Point, So., F
Anthony Firriolo, Army West Point, Sr., D
Luke Rowe, Air Force, Jr., D
Brian Kramer, AIC, Jr., D
Jarrett Fiske, AIC, Sr., G

Third Team
Keaton Mastrodonato, Canisius, Sr., F
John Keranen, Army West Point, Sr., F
Jordan Biro, AIC, Jr., F
Nick Hale, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Hunter Sansbury, Sacred Heart, So., D
Jacob Barczewski, Canisius, Jr., G

All-Rookie Team
Max Itagaki, Army West Point, Fr., F
Nicholas Niemo, Bentley, Fr., F
Marcus Joughin, Sacred Heart, Fr., F
Chris Hedden, Air Force, Fr., D
Mack Oliphant, Holy Cross, Fr., D
Owen Say, Mercyhurst, Fr., G
 
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