ECAC Hockey Announces Group No. 4 of its Top 50 All-Time Players

ALBANY, N.Y. -- As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, ECAC Hockey has comprised a group of its top 50 players to recognize the storied history of the League and honor its significant players. The League announced the fourth installment of honorees as part of its top 50 players of all-time. The top 50 players were determined by a selection committee made up of former coaches and media members. These honorees were tallied from 145 players (47 defensemen; 73 forwards; and 25 goaltenders).

The fourth segment of honorees includes: New Hampshire forward Ralph Cox, Wildcats' all-time leader in goals (127) and points (243) and only Wildcats player to compile 70-plus points in three consecutive seasons; Trevor Koenig, goaltender at Union, 1997 ECAC Hockey Goaltender of Year and Dutchmen record-holder in goals-against average (2.03) and save percentage (.931) in season (1997); Rick Meagher, forward, Boston University, a four-time league champion (1974-77) and the only BUâ€ˆplayer ever to be named a three-time all-America (1975-77); Cornell forward Lance Nethery, the Big Red's all-time scoring leader in assists (180) and points (271), who averaged 2.44 points per contests as collegian; and Lee Stempniak, forward Dartmouth, led the Big Green in scoring (points) three consecutive seasons (2003-05) and three-time recipient of Dartmouth's Phelan Award as team most valuable player (2003-05).

All current and former teams' impactful players, including those from Boston College, Boston University, New Hampshire, Middlebury, Army, etc... were reviewed in comprising the list of candidates for the special team. Five players from the top 50 all-time team will be released every two weeks throughout the season leading up the championship in March 18-19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The following is the latest group among the Top 50 players:

Lee Stempniak -Dartmouth College, Forward, (2001-05) - West Seneca, New York

Two-Time All-America (First Team 2004; Second Team 2005) ... Two-Time All-Conference First Team (2004-05) ... 2002 All-Rookie ... 2000-09 ECAC Hockey All-Decade First Team ... Captain of Dartmouth's 2005 Team ... 2005 ECAC Hockey Points Co-Leader (27 points in 22 games) ... Led Dartmouth in Scoring (Points) Three Consecutive Seasons (2003-05) ... Ranks Fourth All-Time on Dartmouth's Scoring List (151 Points) ... One of Only Fourth Big Green Players to Compile 150-Plus Points in Career ... School Record-Holder for Games Played (135) .... One of Only Six Dartmouth Players to Earn Multiple All-America Accolades ... Three-Time Recipient of Dartmouth's Phelan Award as Team Most Valuable Player (2003-05) ... 2002 Recipient of Dartmouth's Booma Award as Outstanding Freshman ... Current Member of Phoenix Coyotes of National Hockey League (NHL) ... Netted 100-Plus Goals in Six-Year NHL Career

Lee Stempniak

Ralph Cox - University of New Hampshire, - Forward, (1975-79) - Braintree, Massachusetts

Two-Time All-America (1978-79) ... Two-Time All-Conference First Team (1978-79) ... 1979 ECAC Hockey Player of Year ... Member of 1979 League Champions ... 1979 ECAC Hockey Goals and Points Leader (All Games: 42 goals, 74 points in 34 games; League: 34 goals, 58 points in 24 games) ... Wildcats' All-Time Leader in Goals (127) and Points (243) in 128 Collegiate Games ... Led New Hampshire in Goals Three Consecutive Years, and Points Two Consecutive Years ... Only New Hampshire Player to Score 40 Goals in Season -- Accomplished Two Times (1978-79) ... Only Wildcats Player to Compile 70-Plus Points in Three Consecutive Seasons ... Voted Wildcats' Most Improved Player in 1977 ... 1979 Recipient of Walter Brown Award as Top American-Born Player in New England ... 1979 Leonard Fowle Award Honoree as New England Player of Year ... Inducted into New Hampshire Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986

Trevor Koenig - Union College - Goaltender, (1995-98) - Edmonton, Alberta

1997 All-America ... 1997 ECAC Hockey Goaltender of Year ... 1995 All-Rookie ... 1997 All-Conference First Team ... 1990-99 ECAC Hockey All-Decade Second Team ... 1997 ECAC Hockey Goals-Against Average Champion (2.03) ... 1997 ECAC Hockey Save Percentage Champion (.931) ... Union's Record-Holder in Goals-Against Average (2.03) and Save Percentage (.931) in Season (1997) ... Two-Time Union Most Valuable Player (1997-98) ... Third on Union Wins List in the Division I Era (32) ... First Dutchmen to Post Consecutive Shutouts in Division I Era -- Beating Vermont and Dartmouth February 14-15, 1997 -- on Way to Then-ECAC Hockey Record for Consecutive Scoreless Minutes at 198:44 ... Led Nation in Save Percentage (.931) and Goals-Against Average (2.03) in 1997 ... Recorded Union's First Shutout in Division I Era -- 6-0 at St. Lawrence February 4, 1995 ... Second on Union's Shutout List in Division I Era (9)

Rick Meagher - Boston University, Forward, (1973-77) - Belleville, Ontario

Only BU player ever to be named a Three-Time All-America (1975-77) ... 1970-79 All-Decade First Team ... Four-Time All-Conference (First Team 1976-77; Second Team 1974-75) ... Two-Time Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1975 and 1977) ... 1977 NCAA All-Tournament ... Co-Captain of Terriers' 1977 Team ... Four-Time League Champion (1974-77) ... Amassed 210 Points, Including 90 Goals, in 124 Collegiate Contests (1.69 Points Per Game) ... Fourth All-Time on Terriers' All-Time Scoring List ... One of Only Five Terriers to Amass 200-Plus Career Points ... Compiled Career-Best 80 Points in 1977 -- Figure Ranks No. 3 All-Time in Boston U. History ... Named New England Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Forward by New England Hockey Writers Association in 1977 ... 1977 Gordon 'Mickey' Cochrane Award Winner as Boston University's Athlete of Year ... 1977 Recipient of Boston University's George V. Brown Award as Most Valuable Player ... Inducted into Terriers Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983 ... Enjoyed 11-Year Career in National Hockey League (NHL), Appearing in Nearly 700 Games ... Registered 309 Career Points, Including 144 Goals, as Member of Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues ... Competed in 62 NHL Playoff Contests ... 1990 Recipient of Frank J. Selke Trophy as NHL's Best Defensive Forward

Lance Nethery - Cornell University, Forward, (1975-79) - Toronto, Ontario

Two-Time All-America (1978-79) ... 1970-79 ECAC Hockey All-Decade First Team ... 1978 ECAC Hockey Player of Year ... Three-Time All-Conference (First Team 1978-79; Second Team 1977) ... Two-Time Co-Captain for Big Red (1978-79) ... Cornell's All-Time Scoring Leader in Assists (180) and Points (271) ... Averaged 2.44 Points Per Contests as Collegian (271 Points, 111 Games) ... Cornell Record-Holder for Assists (60) and Points (83) in Season (1978) ... 1978 ECAC Hockey Points Leader (83 points in 26 games) ... Big Red Co-Record Holder for Points in Game as Freshman (6) and Sophomore (8) ... Three-Time Recipient of Cornell's Nicky Bawlf Award as Team Most Valuable Player (1977-79) ... Awarded Cornell's Bill Doran Sportsmanship Award in 1976 ... Inducted into Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984 ... Competed with National Hockey League's New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers ... Compiled 11 Goals and 12 Assists for 23 Points in 38 NHL Games with New York Rangers ... Currently Serves as General Manager of DEG Metro Stars (Germany).

Throughout its history, ECAC Hockey has been home to seven NCAA men's championship teams, witnessed over 15,000 games, produced more than 500 National Hockey Leaguers, nearly 300 All-Americans, three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners, and over 1,100 student-athletes who have earned All-Academic honors since 1999-00, the first year the League recognized these individuals.

The first group of top 50 players released on November 11 included the following: Bob Brinkworth, forward at Rensselaer (1961-64); Ken Dryden, Cornell goaltender (1967-69); defenseman Mark Fusco, Harvard (1980-83); Brian Mueller, defenseman, Clarkson (1991-95); and Boston College forward Joe Mullen. The League released the second segment of players on November 24 which included the following; defenseman Ray Giroux, Yale (1994-98); Joe Juneau forward Rensselaer (1987-91); Colgate forward Andy McDonald (1996-00); Joe Nieuwendyk, foward Cornell (1984-87); and defenseman Ron Wilson, Providence (1973-77). The third assembly release on December 8 included the following: Joe Cavanagh, Harvard, forward, (1969-71); Yann Danis Brown, goaltender, (2000-04); Clarkson defenseman Dave Fretz (1981-85); Dan Laperriere, St. Lawrence, defenseman, (1988-92); and forward Martin St. Louis, Vermont (1993-97).

The top 50 players were determined by a vote of a selection committee of 10 individuals, which include Joe Bertagna, former student-athlete at Harvard, former hockey commissioner of the ECAC and current commissioner of Hockey East; Ed Carpenter, former Sports Information Director at Boston U.; Bill Cleary, former student-athlete, head coach and director of athletics at Harvard; John Connolly, long-time sports reporter at the Boston Herald; Dan Fridgen, former student-athlete at Colgate and former head coach at RPI; Mike Gilligan, former head coach at Yale (interim) and Vermont; Lou Lamoriello, former student-athlete and head coach at Providence and current CEO/President/General Manager of the New Jersey Devils; Mark Morris, former student-athlete at Colgate and former head coach at Clarkson; Tim Taylor, former student-athlete at Harvard and former head coach at Yale; and Adam Wodon, editor of the College Hockey News Web site.