Buffalo, N.Y. – Head Coach Paul Colontino, redshirt junior forward Brittany Howard, and freshman forward Jaycee Gebhard were named CHA Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year, respectively, and four members of the No. 9 Robert Morris University women's hockey team earned a total of five All-College Hockey America (CHA) honors, as announced by the league at the annual CHA Championship banquet Wednesday evening at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Buffalo, N.Y.
 
In his sixth season with the Colonials, Colontino earned his second career CHA Coach of the Year nod, and his first since the 2011-12 season. This year, Colontino guided his squad to a program-best No. 7 ranking in both major national polls, as well as the program's second 20-plus win season. The 2016-17 team boasts the best CHA record (15-3-2) in Robert Morris lore. RMU secured its first ever CHA Regular-Season Championship title, and earned the No. 1 seed in the 2017 CHA Tournament. Colontino earned his 100^th career win on Dec. 31, 2016, when Robert Morris topped the Bears of Brown, 5-3.
 
Howard is the first ever player at Robert Morris to earn the CHA Player of the Year title. Howard made a splash in the RMU record books this season, as she currently ranks first in individual career assists (78) and is five points shy of becoming the all-time points leader. Howard tabbed her 100^th career point on Nov. 11 in a 4-3 win over RIT. This year, she set new single-season records at Robert Morris in points (48) and assists (30). Howard leads the league in assists, points, power-play assists (11), power-play points (17), and plus-rating (+38).
 
Howard was also named to the All-CHA First Team for the second time in her career (2015 All-CHA First Team, 2014 All-CHA Second Team and All-CHA Rookie Team), and was awarded with the CHA Scoring Trophy, which marks another first for the program.
 
Gebhard is the fourth CHA Rookie of the Year to come out of Robert Morris, and the first since current senior goaltender Jessica Dodds took home the honor in 2013-14. Gebhard currently leads the nation in points per game among rookies (1.38) and power-play goals (nine). She was named CHA Rookie of the Month for five straight months. Gebhard paces the conference in goals (22), power-play goals, power-play points (17), plus-rating (+38), and plus-minus rating (+20). Gebhard is four points away from matching Howard's program-record 48 in a single season. She is currently tied with Rebecca Vint for most points scored by a rookie at Robert Morris. Gebhard is also tied with Vint for most goals scored by a freshman in her debut campaign (22). She ranks second in single-season power-play goals with nine.
 
Gebhard was also named to the All-CHA Second Team and the All-CHA Rookie Team.
 
Sophomore defenseman Kirsten Welsh and senior Jessica Dodds were named All-CHA First Team.
 
This marks the first conference honor for Welsh, after she was named to the All-USCHO Rookie Team and the CHA All-Tournament Team in 2015-16. Welsh ranks third among all defensemen nationally in goals (nine) and ranks fifth in points per game among defensemen (0.72). She paces the CHA's defensemen in goals, points (23) and power-play goals (four). She's posted a point in 19 games this season, including eight of the last 10. Welsh registered a career-high three points in a 3-3 tie versus Clarkson on Nov. 25, and again on Jan. 21 in a 3-3 draw at Mercyhurst.
 
She was named CHA Rookie of the Year and earned All-CHA First Team and Rookie Team in 2013-14, and now her career comes full circle as Dodds earned All-CHA First Team recognition. Dodds leads the CHA in save percentage (.931) and ranks second in the league in goals against average (1.87), and win percentage (.700). She posted two shutouts in the last four games, including a 3-0 effort at Lindenwood that clinched the 2016-17 CHA Regular-Season Championship for the Colonials.
 

Robert Morris also accepted its 2016-17 CHA Regular-Season Championship trophy at tonight's ceremony.
 
To date, 18 different Colonials have earned a total of 36 all-conference honors in program history, including 24 awards won by 12 student-athletes under head coach Paul Colontino dating back to the 2011-12 season. Three CHA Rookies of the Year and one CHA Player of the Year have been selected from Robert Morris with two-time CHA Coach of the Year Colontino at the helm.
 
 
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