AHCA

ahcahockey.com | April 2026 27 D amon Beaver (Whitby, ON), a senior goaltender for the undefeated Hobart College hockey team, is the recipient of the 2026 Sid Watson Award. The award, voted on by the nation's Division III head coaches, is presented to the best player at the men's NCAA Division III level by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Beaver is the first player from Hobart to receive this award. The SUNYAC Player and Goaltender of the Year, Beaver led the NCAA in GAA (0.90) and save percentage (.956). His 26 career shutouts are the best ever in the NCAA. He went 20-1-0 this year, he was named the MVP of the SUNYAC Tournament as he backboned wins over Oswego (3-0) and Cortland (4-0) en route to the title. Then he stopped 22 of 23 shots in a tight 2-1 NCAA quarterfinal game against St. Norbert College to propel the Statesmen into the Frozen Four. His career record is a phenomenal 73-5-1. After a 4-2 semifinal win over UW-Stout, Hobart's near-perfect season came to an end with a heart-breaking 2-1 overtime loss to Hamilton College in the NCAA title game. The Statesmen finished 30-1-0. The runner-up for this year's Sid Watson Award was Ian Amsbaugh, a junior forward from Adrian College and Bottineau, ND. 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. Damon Beaver SID WATSON AWARD MEN D III 27 ahcahockey.com | April-May 2026 Damon Beaver of Hobart College Wins Sid Watson Award

• Cover