WALTHAM, Mass. – For the second straight season, Bentley University forward Kyle Schmidt (Menomonee Falls, Wisc./Sioux City) has been named a semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award, which is given to the best American-born college hockey player in New England.

Schmidt is one of two nominees from Atlantic Hockey, and is one of just eight repeat semifinalists from 2016.

A right winger, Schmidt is currently T-3^rd in Atlantic Hockey in goals (16) and T-6^th in points (26). He's coming off a big month of January, where he was Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month, and was twice named Player of the Week.

Back in 2012, Bentley's Brett Gensler became the first player in Atlantic Hockey history to win the Walter Brown Award, which was first awarded in 1953, and has been won by many current and former NHL players. Former Falcon defenseman Steve Weinstein was named a finalist for the award in 2014.

The three finalists, and the winner of the Walter Brown Award will be announced in March before the start of the NCAA Tournament.