MARSHFIELD Mass. – After spearheading a strong 2022-23 campaign that saw the Spartans earn their most wins since 2016-17, Bryce Irwin and Zack Whittaker were named to the NEHC All-Conference Third Team and Rookie Team respectively, as announced by the conference Thursday afternoon.
 
Irwin finished the regular season second on the team in points (22) coming on six goals and a team-best 16 assists, the latter of which also ranked him tied for third in the conference. In NEHC-play, the sophomore led all forwards in assists with 12 en route to the program's first All-Conference recognition by a forward since 2013.
 
Playing a major part in Castleton winning five of their last eight games, Irwin tallied 11 points via five goals and six assists over that span to secure the Spartans the eighth-seed in the upcoming NEHC tournament.
 
Whittaker continued an impressive run of All-Rookie defensemen for Castleton, becoming the third Spartan freshman to earn postseason accolades in the past four years. The British Columbia native registered 11 points on three goals and eight assists to go along with 18 blocks on the defensive end, while his eight points in conference-play ranked sixth among all rookie defenders.
 
Whittaker totaled four multi-point games including a two-assist effort in their come-from-behind win over Skidmore on January 24, and was one of the least penalized Spartan defenders on the season, committing just four penalties over 25 games.
 
Click here to view the full conference release.