O’Brien Receives NEHWA Co-Most Valuable Player Honors

BEVERLY, Mass. – Former Endicott men's ice hockey goalie Conor O'Brien (Pinellas Park, Fla.) has been named the New England Hockey Writers Association (NEHWA) Division II-III Co-Most Valuable Player.

O'Brien is the first student-athlete in program history to earn the honor. He shares the award with fellow Joe Concannon Award co-winner Ryan Black (Pomfret, Conn.) from Babson College.

Along with his NEHWA Co-Most Valuable Player award, O'Brien was named to the NEHWA Division II-III All-Star Team. It marks the second NEHWA All-Star Team honor of his career.

O'Brien is currently signed with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL. In his pro debut on April 16, 2022, O'Brien stopped 34 shots in a 1-0 loss to the Reading Royals. 

2021-22 SEASON

This past season, O'Brien was named a CCM/AHCA All-America East First Team honoree and an All-USCHO First Team selection, a finalist for the CCM/AHCA Division II/III Player of the Year award, the Joe Concannon Award winner (best American-born NCAA DII/III college hockey student-athlete in New England), and the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year, respectively.

His stats more than backed up the bounty of accolades he received as O'Brien posted a 19-6-1 record, a 1.41 goals against average (GAA), a .949 save percentage (665 saves), and four shutouts in 26 games played.

Among his NCAA Division III peers, O'Brien finished the year ranked No. 1 in save percentage, second in GAA, and No. 15 in winning percentage (.750).

O'Brien's career stat line includes a 53-18-3 record (.736), a 2.00 GAA, 2,041 saves (.934), and nine shutouts in 75 games played (all starts).

He is the program record holder for most wins, saves, save percentage, GAA (min. 2,000 minutes), and shutouts.

CONOR O'BRIEN RESUME

• 2x All-American
• 2x All-USCHO
• 1x Player of the Year finalist
• 1x Joe Concannon Award winner
• 3x Joe Concannon Award semifinalist
• 2x All-Region
• 1x NEHWA Division II-III Co-Most Valuable Player
• 1x CCC Player of the Year
• 2x CCC Goaltender of the Year
• 2x All-CCC First Team
• 3x CCC Academic All-Conference
• 1x All-American Scholar
• 1x NSCA All-American
• 16x CCC Weekly Award winner
• Only goaltender in program history to be named captain
• Program record holder for most wins, saves, save percentage, GAA (min. 2,000 minutes), and shutouts.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Endicott posted a 20-7-1 overall record and a 15-5-1 conference mark before falling to UNE in the conference championship. The Gulls also concluded the year ranked No. 13 in the final USCHO.com Poll.

Since the program was elevated to NCAA Division III varsity status in 2015-16, Endicott has compiled 15 or more wins in every full season of play and 20 or more victories in three seasons (2016-17, 2019-20, 2021-22). 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)