Winkler, O'Brien Named Joe Concannon Award Semifinalists

20TH JOE CONCANNON AWARD SEMIFINALISTS RELEASE

BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott men's ice hockey student-athletes Conor O'Brien (Pinellas Park, Fla.) and James Winkler (York, Maine) have been named semifinalists for the 20th Joe Concannon Award, presented annually to the best American-born NCAA Division II/III college hockey student-athlete in New England. The semifinalists for the Joe Concannon Award were announced yesterday by the organization.

The Joe Concannon Award was established in 2001 shortly after the passing of the longtime writer for The Boston Globe who had a great passion for the game of college hockey while always advocating strongly for amateur athletics.

O'Brien and Winkler are now the 10th and 11th student-athletes, respectively, to be named Joe Concannon Award semifinalists in the short five-year history of the Endicott men's ice hockey program.

CONOR O'BRIEN | G | SO. | PINELLAS PARK, FLA.

In 18 games played this season (all starts), O'Brien has compiled a 14-4-0 record, a 1.83 goals against average (GAA), a .938 save percentage, 481 saves, and three shutouts. 

O'Brien's conference-only numbers are equally as impressive as the sophomore is 10-2-0 overall to go along with a 1.58 GAA, .948 save percentage, 328 saves, and two shutouts. He currently ranks first in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in GAA and save percentage, and second in winning percentage (.833).

On the NCAA Division III national leaderboards, O'Brien is ranked No. 11 in GAA, No. 9 in save percentage, No. 12 in winning percentage (14-4-0, .778), and tied for sixth in shutouts (3).

JAMES WINKLER | F | SR. | YORK, MAINE

Winkler currently leads the Gulls in goals (16) and points (16g, 11a, 27p) over 19 games played so far this season. Winkler also sports a plus-16 rating, has produced five power play goals, one short-handed tally, and a team-leading three game-winners during that span. 

Meanwhile, in conference play, Winkler has registered 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points. He leads the squad in both goals and points in conference-only games this season. 

He also ranks No. 2 among all CCC skaters in points per game (1.67, 20p), first in goal scoring (0.92, 11g), No. 8 in assists (0.75, 9a), tied for No. 11 in power play points (0.50, 6 ppp), tied first in power play goals (0.42, 5 ppg), tied first in short-handed points (0.17, 1g, 1a, 2p), and tied first in game-winning goals (2).

Nationally, Winkler ranks No. 20 in points per game (16g, 11a, 27p, 1.42 PPG), No. 5 in goals per game (0.84), and tied at No. 12 in game-winning goals (3). 

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (14-5-0, 10-2-0 CCC) hosts Salve Regina on Friday, February 7 at 7:15 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)