By Matt Kaminsky and Jerry Gibbs, Currier Times Staff///

UPDATE March 27, 2025

At the AHCA (American Hockey Coaches Award) awards banquet on Thursday evening in Utica, New York, Curry Men’s Hockey Coach Peter Roundy took home Coach of the Year honors. In addition, the prestigious Sid Watson award, given to the best player in DIII college hockey, went to sophomore goalie sensation, Shane Soderwall. This is the first time in Curry College history that a Curry player has received this honor.

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The Curry Men’s hockey team left Milton on Wednesday afternoon on their way to the Frozen Four in Utica, New York, and arrived in Utica shortly before 6:00 p.m. The night before, the Curry community gathered at the Student Center to wish the team well and hear from players, Coach Peter Roundy and Curry president, Jay Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, holding up “Executive Orders” declared Daylight Savings Time was “over” and it was now “Curry Time.”

Coach Roundy called the players’ success this year a “complete team effort,” and hoped many Curry fans would come to Utica on Friday night to help support them in their effort to get to the National Championship game, scheduled for Sunday night.

Sophomore goalie sensation, Shane Soderwall, won the Sid Watson award, for best player in national NCAA DIII hockey at the American Hockey Coaches award banquet Thursday night in Utica.

This came after he was named the winner of the Joe Concannon Award, for the best American hockey player in New England in DII and DIII hockey.

Until Soderwall’s big win Thursday, the Sid Watson award had never been awarded to a Curry player.

After Curry beat Hamilton last weekend to get to the Frozen Four, several members of the team participated in a post-game news conference, capturing some of the excitement of making it to this national stage.

Soderwall said the team is ready to face the best.

“Being super focused and calm the whole time was what our focus was,” said Soderwall. “And that’s what these boys showed that we can play strong teams any night.”

Team captain, George Vonakis, said the team is able to stay in the moment in big situations.

“It is a really awesome group and so much fun to play with these guys,” said Vonakis. “Big thanks to the coaches and the players that came before us, all the support we get is amazing, the crowd tonight was incredible and we couldn’t do it without them.”

Taurin Haddon-Harris, who scored two big goals in the Elite Eight win, said this group was one big family.

“It’s easy to go to war when the guy next to you is your family right?” said Haddon-Harris. “So is playing with your brothers, so it’s awesome.”

Coach Roundy said the work ethic of the team is something to celebrate.

“We think we got the recipe here and these guys come to the rink to work and compete and to continue to get better,” said Roundy. “And I give these guys a lot of credit; it’s a long year …they come to captain’s skate in September and I think we have had over 80 practices and they continued to get better.”

Tickets are now SOLD OUT in Utica, NY, but if there are any changes to that situation, be sure to follow the Curry Athletics page for more information. Tickets to the National Championship game would go on sale Saturday at NOON, after the final two teams are decided.

A reminder that Curry plays Utica Friday at 7:00 p.m. The other game, Hobart vs Geneseo is Friday at 3:00 p.m. The National Championship is Sunday night at 7:00 p.m.

Stay with The Currier Times and follow us on Twitter (X) @curriertimes for continuing updates.