ECAC Hockey Release

ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell freshman forward Jillian Saulnier has been named a finalist for ECAC Hockey's Rookie of Year, the league announced Wednesday.

Saulnier, playing on the top line as a left wing for most of the season, is second in the country in points per game among rookies (1.56) and is tied for 17th in points per game nationally among all players.

Saulnier has scored 20 goals and tallied 22 assists this year, most recently scoring an overtime game-winner against Clarkson on Friday night that was her second game-winner of the season.

She is third among Cornell players in points, trailing only Rebecca Johnston (46) and Brianne Jenner (45). For goals, her 20 is second only behind Johnston. Her 22 assists put her fourth on the roster.

In terms of league statistics, Saulnier ranks tied for third among all ECAC Hockey players in points and goals. She ranks tied for sixth in assists, fourth in plus/minus (+33) and tied for 12th in power play goals (four).

Saulnier's numbers are even more impressive considering she missed two games this season to travel with Canada's under-22 national team for the Meco Cup in Germany.

In league-only games, Saulnier's 26 points puts her tied for seventh in among ECAC Hockey competition. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has twice won the league's Player of the Month Award and three times earned its Rookie of the Week honor.

Along with Saulnier, Eleeza Cox of Rensselaer and Carmen MacDonald of St. Lawrence have been named as finalists for Rookie of the Year. The award winner will be announced next Thursday at a banquet before the conference's tournament semifinals.