NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Senior forward Melissa Sheeran (Schaghticoke, N.Y./Millbrook School) of the Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team has earned the 2017-18 Laura Hurd Award, which is awarded annually to the top player in NCAA Division III women's ice hockey. The award is given by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) and is named in honor of former Elmira College star and four-time All-American Laura Hurd, who died in a car accident shortly after graduation.
 
Sheeran is the fourth Cardinal to earn the prestigious honor, joining Sydney Aveson (2014), Teal Gove (2013) and current assistant coach Danielle Blanchard (2008). She was a finalist for the award last year.
 
The 2018 Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) Player of the Year and the 2017 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West Player of the Year, Sheeran has played a pivotal role in the Cardinals' success. Sheeran, a two-time CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American, was named to the All-NEWHL First Team and previously earned All-ECAC West honors twice. She ranks among the Division III leaders this year in assists per game (third, 1.04), points per game (tied for seventh, 1.68) and goals per game (tied for 17th, 0.64).
 
Overall this season, she has collected a team-leading 47 points on 18 goals and 29 assists, and her scoring and assist totals lead the NEWHL. Sheeran was named the NEWHL Player of the Week twice this season and was named to the D3hockey.com National Women's Team of the Week once. For her career, Sheeran ranks sixth in Division III history in points (184), doing so on 96 goals and 88 assists. She also ranks second in Division III history in career game-winning goals with 24, which stands as a Plattsburgh State record.
 
Plattsburgh State (24-2-2, 15-0-1 NEWHL) looks to win its fifth straight and seventh overall NCAA Division III national title this weekend, and that quest continues with a 3:30 p.m. game against Elmira College on Friday, March 16, in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Norwich University's Kreitzberg Arena.