CHN Player of the Year: Zach Aston-Reese

CHN Staff Report

PRINCETON, N.J.  In another tight race, Northeastern forward Zach Aston-Reese has been named CHN Player of the Year.

Aston-Reese edged out Union's Mike Vecchione and Denver's Will Butcher for the award. All three are seniors and Hobey Baker Award finalists.

This season, the Staten Island, N.Y., native had 31 goals and 63 points, both first in the NCAA this season. And his 161 shots on goal is second in the nation, just one behind teammate Adam Gaudette. He also added four shorthanded goals. He had hat tricks in back-to-back games, including Dec. 18 at Michigan State and Dec. 30 vs. Clarkson. He added another, against Connecticut, later in the year.

Vecchione also has 63 points, with 29 goals, and a stellar 61.8 percent faceoff efficiency as a center. Though Aston-Reese's defensive skills are also prominent, despite his team's struggles in that department this year.

Northeastern's season ended with a loss in the Hockey East quarterfinals over two weeks ago. He signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins soon thereafter, and has 2 goals and 6 points in 4 games with the team's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre.

Picked to finish in the top 10 by preseason pollsters after last season's Hockey East tournament championship, Northeastern's season was derailed, in part, by an .895 team save percentage.

Aston-Reese's point and goal totals increased each of his four seasons with Northeastern, from 8-19, to 13-23, to 14-43 and then 31-63 this year.