LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — For the second consecutive season, Sam Malinski has earned First Team All-ECAC Honors, it was announced Thursday evening on the eve of the ECAC Hockey Championship semifinal round.

The Cornellian senior defenseman joined Harvard's Henry Thrun as the lone blueliners named to the conference's top team.

Malinski is the first Cornell player to earn First Team All-ECAC honors in consecutive years since forward Morgan Barron (2018 and 2019).

No Cornell defenseman has been named a First Team All-ECAC selection in back-to-back seasons since Doug Murray (2002 and 2003).

It is the first time an ECAC Hockey defenseman has been named to the conference's first team in at least two straight campaigns since Quinnipiac's Zach Metsa did so from 2019-21.

Malinski, a native of Lakeville, Minn., has 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 31 appearances this season, marking the most points by a Big Red defenseman since Yanni Kaldis' 28-point season (four goals, 24 assists) in 2018-19.

Appearing in all 22 ECAC Hockey contests for Cornell, Malinski registered 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists), tying with Thrun (2-18—20) for the most by an ECAC blueliner.

Earlier this year, Malinski had a 10-game point streak, which remains the second longest by a Division I defenseman this season, trailing Boston University's freshman Lane Hutson (11 games).

Cornell, who is the No. 3 seed in this year's ECAC Hockey Championship, will face No. 2-seeded Harvard in the ECAC semifinals at the 1980 Rink — Herb Brooks Arena on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+, and on WHCU (870 AM, 97.7 FM).

Major Award Winners

ECAC Player of the Year: Sean Farrell (Harvard)
ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year: Sam Lipkin (Quinnipiac)
Tim Taylor Head Coach of the Year: Rand Pecknold (Quinnipiac)
Howie's Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman: Henry Thrun (Harvard)
Gladiator Best Defensive Forward: Skyler Brind'Amour (Quinnipiac)
ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year: Yaniv Perets (Quinnipiac)

First Team All-ECAC

Collin Graf^ (Quinnipiac)
Sean Farrell (Harvard)
Alex Young (Colgate)
Henry Thrun (Harvard)
Sam Malinski (Cornell)
Yaniv Perets^ (Quinnipiac)

Second Team All-ECAC

Matthew Coronato (Harvard)
Alex Laferriere (Harvard)
Ethan de Jong (Quinnipiac)
Zach Metsa (Quinnipiac)
Luc Salem (St. Lawrence)
Mitchell Gibson (Harvard)

Third Team All-ECAC

Ayrton Martino (Clarkson)
Mathieu Gosselin (Clarkson)
Skyler Brind'Amour (Quinnipiac)
Noah Beck (Clarkson)
Tanner Palocsik (Dartmouth)
Mathieu Caron (Brown)

All-Rookie Team

Sam Lipkin^ (Quinnipiac)
Joe Miller^ (Harvard)
Sutter Muzzatti (RPI)
John Prokop (Union)
Ryan Healey (Harvard)
Cooper Black^ (Dartmouth)

Note: ^ - denotes unanimous selection