April 19, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 19, 2005) -- The New England Hockey Journal announced today that Providence College junior forward Karen Thatcher (Douglas, Mass.) was named the 2004-05 Player of the Year for Women's HOCKEY EAST Association. It marked the first year that New England Hockey Journal chose Players of the Year for each league it covers.

Thatcher, the 2004-05 Women's HOCKEY EAST Co-Player of the Year, led Providence to its third straight league title and first NCAA Tournament bid with a career high 58 points on 25 goals and 33 assists. She earned HOCKEY EAST Sportsmanship Award for the second straight year, and was named to the New England Hockey Writers Divison I All-Star Team.

As the league's scoring champion runner-up, Thatcher earned player of the week (11/8/04; 1/31/05) twice and player of the month (2/2/05) honors. This year, she was named to the National College Student-Athlete Honor Society for her outstanding academic achievements. The winners very voted by NEHJ staff writers and will be honored in the May issue of New England Hockey Journal, scheduled for release during the first week of May.

New England Hockey Journal 2004-05 Players of the Year Hockey East: Patrick Eaves (Boston College) ECACHL: Dov Grumet-Morris (Harvard) Atlantic Hockey: Reid Cashman (Qunnipiac) Division III (Men): Kurtis McLean (Norwich) Women's Hockey East: Karen Thatcher (Providence) Women's ECACHL: Nicole Corriero (Harvard) Division III (Women): Emily Quizon (Middlebury)