Keene, NH-  The Keene State College Owls Men's Ice Hockey Club Team turned in another strong academic performance this semester despite less than ideal circumstances.  The team's semester GPA set a club record at 3.42.  "This group of boys made us proud in the classroom just as they have on the ice all year," commented Coach Bobby Rodrigue.  

The American Collegiate Hockey Association announced earlier this month that ten players from Keene State have been named Academic All-Americans.  Those players are:  Kyle Carignan, Jake Clark, Dillon Dodge, Shane Gorrie, Domenic Federico, Andrew Lusignan, Drew Merrick, Lucas Poulin, Joey Silva and Carlin Testa.  

This Semester, six players (Carignan, Dodge, Poulin, Jordan Puzzo, Silva and Testa) turned in perfect 4.0 GPAs; six others scored 3.75 or higher and five more achieved at least a 3.5.  When asked about this semester's gaudy GPA, Coach Rodrigue stated, "I understand that grading policies were modified this semester but I don't think we can overstate the adversity that students-across the country-have had to overcome this Spring.  These boys went from earning an autbid to the National Tournament and a NECHA Championship to seeing the ACHA Nationals cancelled, to taking all their classes remotely and not seeing their friends in-person in a matter of weeks." 

14 Seniors graduated from the team this month; 11 of them graduated with cumulative GPAs higher than 3.0.  Each semester the team sets a collective goal of achieving a 3.0 team GPA.  The team has reached that goal in nine of the last ten semesters.  "We are going to start announcing the arrival of some terrific new student-athletes shortly- they have really big shoes to fill," added Rodrigue.  "These guys have raised the bar on the ice every year and they've done the same in the classroom every year. They'll be missed but they've left a program in great shape for the next leaders."