Chris Hedden named finalist for AHA Player and Defenseman of the Year
3/12/2026 2:57:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force senior Chris Hedden is a finalist for Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year, as announced today by the league office.
A first-team all-AHA selection, Hedden is a finalist for AHA Player of the Year along with Sacred Heart forward Felix Trudeau and Army goalie J.J. Cataldo. Hedden is a finalist for Defenseman of the Year along with Sacred Heart's Mikey Adamson.
Hedden, from Kalamazoo, Mich., had more goals (9) and points (24) in league play than any other AHA defenseman. He also had two power-play goals, two short-handed goals and was a +7 (tied for third best) in 26 conference games. In all games, Hedden led the team with 12 goals and 34 points. Hedden's 12 goals and 34 points are second in the nation for a defenseman. He is a five-time AHA Defenseman of the Week and was the AHA and HCA (national) Defenseman of the Month for November. He is also on the ballot for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He also led the team with 63 blocked shots in all games.
Air Force's last AHA Defenseman of the Year was Adam McKenzie in 2012-13. Air Force's last Player of the Year was Tim Kirby in 2011-12. Kirby was also the Player of the Year, Hobey Baker finalist and earned All-America honors that same season.
Air Force closed out the regular season with an 18-15-4 record, the first winning season since 2018-19. The 18 wins tie (2023-24) as the most since 2017-18. Air Force went 8-4-2 in the final 14 games of the season and earned 11 road wins, the most since the 2017-18 season.
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A first-team all-AHA selection, Hedden is a finalist for AHA Player of the Year along with Sacred Heart forward Felix Trudeau and Army goalie J.J. Cataldo. Hedden is a finalist for Defenseman of the Year along with Sacred Heart's Mikey Adamson.
Hedden, from Kalamazoo, Mich., had more goals (9) and points (24) in league play than any other AHA defenseman. He also had two power-play goals, two short-handed goals and was a +7 (tied for third best) in 26 conference games. In all games, Hedden led the team with 12 goals and 34 points. Hedden's 12 goals and 34 points are second in the nation for a defenseman. He is a five-time AHA Defenseman of the Week and was the AHA and HCA (national) Defenseman of the Month for November. He is also on the ballot for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He also led the team with 63 blocked shots in all games.
Air Force's last AHA Defenseman of the Year was Adam McKenzie in 2012-13. Air Force's last Player of the Year was Tim Kirby in 2011-12. Kirby was also the Player of the Year, Hobey Baker finalist and earned All-America honors that same season.
Air Force closed out the regular season with an 18-15-4 record, the first winning season since 2018-19. The 18 wins tie (2023-24) as the most since 2017-18. Air Force went 8-4-2 in the final 14 games of the season and earned 11 road wins, the most since the 2017-18 season.
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