With the publication of the final print issue of the 2025-26 year, the Quinnipiac Chronicle Sports Staff voted their picks for the 10 annual awards given to Quinnipiac Athletics athletes, coaches and teams, for their performances during their respective seasons.
The awards are as follows: men’s most valuable player, women’s most valuable player, men’s best newcomer, women’s best newcomer, men’s most improved, women’s most improved, men’s coach of the year, women’s coach of the year, men’s team of the year and women’s team of the year.
Men’s MVP: Ethan Wyttenbach
Freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach made noise in his first year as a Bobcat. In 36 appearances, the Roslyn, N.Y. native recorded a nation leading 59 points and a team leading 25 goals. In the annual Battle of Whitney Ave., against Yale on Feb. 7, Wyttenbach recorded a career high five points. Wyttenbach’s 59 points tied Quinnipiac’s single season record.
Women’s MVP: Felicia Frank
In sophomore Felicia Frank’s first season as the Bobcats starting goaltender, she earned her way to the top of ECAC and national rankings, helping the team earn its first ECAC Championship since 2016. Frank played in all 41 of the Bobcats’ games this season, finishing the season with a 1.56 goals against average and a .942 save percentage as well as setting Quinnipiac’s new single-season save record at 1,035.
Men’s Best Newcomer: Ethan Wyttenbach
As a result of his stellar campaign on the ice, Wyttenbach was named to the All-ECAC Rookie Team, All-ECAC First Team, a NEWA All-Star, National Rookie of the Year and First Team East All American. The Calgary Flames draft pick will be returning for the 2026-27 season.
Women’s Best Newcomer: Ella Ryan
Freshman guard Ella Ryan broke out in her rookie season with the Bobcats, earning a place on the MAAC All-Rookie Team. In 34 games as a Bobcat, Ryan averaged 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds, as well as leading the team in three-point percentage, at 41.1% from beyond the arc.
Men’s Most Improved: Elliot Groenewold
Sophomore defensemen Elliot Groenewold had a phenomenal sophomore campaign. In 40 appearances, Groenewold recorded 20 points and a team leading +39 plus/minus. The Springfield, Vermont native was also named a All-ECAC First Team member, the ECAC’s Best Defensive Defensemen, and a NEWA All-Star.
Women’s Most Improved: Melina Silva
Senior middle blocker Milena Silva came into the season under-utilized in the Bobcats rotation. She’d change that in 2025, recording career highs in kills (162), digs (34) and hitting percentage (.286). Silva also led Quinnipiac in blocks (100) and blocks per set (0.85), earning her place in the starting line-up for the first time in her career.
Men’s Coach of the Year: Rand Pecknold
Men’s ice hockey head coach Rand Pecknold has been the definition of consistent success. Pecknold’s squad finished the conference best 2025-26 season with a 17-4-1 ECAC record, producing four members of All-ECAC Teams. Pecknold’s 693 wins are the most of any Quinnipiac head coach in history.
Women’s Coach of the Year: Cass Turner
Cass Turner has finally reached the mountaintop again after winning the ECAC Championship in her first season as head coach back in 2015-16. Under her guidance the Bobcats were 29-9-3 this season, making it to the NCAA Regional Finals for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.
Men’s Team of the Year: Ice Hockey
Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey put together another solid season, winning the ECAC regular season title for the ninth straight season and making the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight season. Despite the success its season ended in heartbreak, getting swept by Clarkson in the first round of ECAC playoffs and falling 5-0 to the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Women’s Team of the Year: Ice Hockey
Women’s ice hockey had one of its best seasons in program history, winning the inaugural women’s ECAC Championship in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Bobcats finished the season 14-6-2 in conference play, capping off a 29-win campaign. The Bobcats fell 6-0 in the NCAA Regional Finals to the Wisconsin Badgers, who went on to win the national title.
