GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Aurora's Hassan Akl and St. Norbert's Logan Dombrowsky have been named a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Sid Watson Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey player in the country.

There are 13 players nominated for the honor. Ten of the finalists are from the United States and three are from Canada. Two are graduate students, three are seniors, five are juniors, and three are sophomores. Ten are forwards, two are defensemen, and one is a goaltender.

Akl, a junior from Chestermere, Alberta, leads the nation in points and assists per game. The forward was named All-NCHA, a Star of the Week and the league's December Player of the Month. He has a nation-leading 51 points and 38 assists, to go along with 13 goals.

He has helped Aurora reach new heights this season and reached No. 2 in the USCHO Poll. The Spartans have won a program-record 24 games this season.

Dombrowsky, a sophomore from Stevens Point, Wis., was named the NCHA's Player of the Year. He was also a three-time Star of the Week. During the regular season he led all NCHA players with 35 points (12G, 23A) and had a league-high-tying 23 assists. The forward is top-8 nationally in assists per game (2nd - 1.10), points per game (2nd - 1.67), power-play goals (8th - 6) and short-handed goals (1st - 4). He was last year's NCHA Freshman of the Year.

The Green Knights won the Harris Cup (playoffs) Championship with a dominating 7-4 victory. During the playoffs this amassed a combined 23-8 scoring margin.

Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Sid Watson Award honors the memory of former Bowdoin College head coach and athletic director Sid Watson. A three-time AHCA Coach of the Year, Watson served Bowdoin for more than 30 years, winning 326 games in 24 seasons as head coach. The recipient of this year's Sid Watson Award will be announced during this year's NCAA Division III Ice Hockey Frozen Four later in the month.

2024-25 Finalists for the Sid Watson Award

Hassan Akl, Junior Forward, Aurora University
(Chestermere, AB)

Fletcher Anderson, Senior Forward, UW-Stevens Point*
(Thunder Bay, ON) WIAC Player of the Year

Nate Berke, Graduate Forward, SUNY Cortland
(Williamsville, NY) SUNYAC Co-Player of the Year

Tyler Braccini, Junior Forward, Bethel
(Hanover, MN) MIAC Offensive Player of the Year

Hunter Bracket, Senior Forward, Saint Anselm College
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) Northeast-10 Player of the Year

Nick Cyprian, Junior Forward, Chatham University
(Aledo, TX) UCHC Player of the Year

Tanner Daniels, Junior Forward, Hobart College
(Edinboro, PA) NEHC Player of the Year

Logan Dombrowsky, Sophomore Forward, St. Norbert
(Stevens Point, WI) NCHA Player of the Year

Landyn Greatorex, Junior Forward, Salem State
(Reading, MA) MASCAC Player of the Year

Cole Jungwirth, Graduate Defenseman, Wilkes
(Bloomington, MN) MAC Defensive Player of the Year

Connor Kalthoff, Senior Defenseman, St. Olaf
(Sartell, MN) MIAC Defensive Player of the Year

Shane Soderwall, Sophomore Goaltender, Curry College
(Algonquin, Il) CNE Player of the Year

Luke Tchor, Sophomore Forward, Hamilton College
(Toronto, ON) NESCAC Player of the Year

* Was also a finalist in 2023 and 2024