Seven coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success in 2008-09 have been named finalists for the AHCA College Division (NCAA Division III) Women’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award. The award will be presented at the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Coach of the Year Banquet on Saturday, April 25, in Naples, FL. The finalists include three-time winner Bill Mandigo of Middlebury College (2001, 2004 and 2005), as well as Peter Van Buskirk of Holy Cross, co-winner of the Men's Division III Coach of the Year Award (Edward Jeremiah Award) in 1983.

To be a finalist for this award, you must either be voted Coach of the Year in your conference or take your team to the NCAA Frozen Four. The four NCAA finalists, playing at Middlebury College this weekend, are Joe Cranston of Wisconsin-River Falls, Greg Fargo of Elmira, Bill Mandigo of Middlebury˜and Jim Plumer of Amherst.

2008-09 AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey
Division III Coach of the Year Finalists
Charlie Burggraf (Bethel, MIAC Coach of the Year)
Joe Cranston (Wisconsin-River Falls, NCHA Coach of the Year, Frozen Four Coach)
Greg Fargo (Elmira, ECAC West Co-Coach of the Year, Frozen Four Coach)
Bill Mandigo (Middlebury, Frozen Four Coach)*
Scott McDonald (R.I.T., ECAC West Co-Coach of the Year)
Jim Plumer (Amherst, NESCAC Coach of the Year, Frozen Four Coach)
Peter Van Buskirk (Holy Cross, ECAC East Coach of the Year)
*Previous Winner