Army defenseman Cheyne Rocha was named the hockey Senior CLASS Award winner. A three-time Atlantic Hockey Association academic all-star, Rocha was recognized for his work on and off the ice.
Rocha, a native of Rye, N.H., was chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's hockey coaches, national ice hockey media, and fans.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence -- classroom, community, character, and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Rocha is the first hockey player to win the award and just the second Army athlete joining 2010 lacrosse winner Andrew Maisano.
"I am humbled and honored to accept the Senior CLASS Award," said Rocha, who will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Branch of the U.S. Army following graduation. "I have been blessed with great teammates, coaches, and instructors during my time at West Point and this award is a result of their mentorship and support. I want to thank my family for their unwavering support and guidance. This was a great group of finalists and I would like to thank all of the fans, media, and head coaches who voted for me during this process. I also want to thank the hard working people behind the Senior CLASS Award for their support of college athletics, especially those who succeed on and off the ice."
