Thompson, York, Coyle earn top Hockey East laurels

New Hampshire forward Paul Thompson was named Hockey East player of the year Thursday night at the league’s annual championship awards night at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Mass.

Thompson, who headlined the First-Team All-Star squad, was the Hockey East scoring champion in conference play with 42 points and his 23 goals were second best in conference action. Thompson is the first ever New Hampshire native to win the award and he is the third Wildcat in the last four years to garner the award.

Coach of the year Jerry York led Boston College to a 20-win season in league play and a first-place finish in the league standings. It marks the first time since the 1994 Boston University squad that a league team has accomplished the 20-win feat in league action.

BU forward Charlie Coyle earned top rookie honors. Coyle, the third BU player in the last four years to win the award, recorded a league-high 21 points in conference contests. He notched a point in 15 of 27 Hockey East games.