BEVERLY, Mass. - The Conference of New England announced on Monday afternoon that Curry College's Eelis Laaksonen (men's hockey) and Endicott College's Hector Johnson (football) were both named the conference's nominees for the 2025 DIII Commissioners Association Men's Athlete of the Year award.

Laaksonen earned his spot as a 2024-25 CCM Hockey/AHCA Division II-III Men's All-American, earning East Second Team honors as the Colonels' go-to offensive player. Laaksonen also earned NEHWA All-Star honors, while also taking home All-CNE First Team status and the league's Scholar Athlete of the Year award. Under Laaksonens leadership the Colonels captured the 2024-2025 CNE regular season and tournament championship, earned the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the program's first Frozen Four appearance.

Laaksonen led Curry in goals and points with 14 and 25. He also dished out 11 assists while leading the team with a +20 plus/minus stat.

On the gridiron, Johnson earned All-Region First Team honors while also receiving two CNE major awards - Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year. The senior standout was just the second Gull to collect two Defensive Player of the Year awards – joining Endicott Hall of Famer Kevin Eagan '12 on the list – and is the only student-athlete in program history to earn numerous Defensive Lineman of the Year honors.

Johnson compiled 37 tackles (19 solo, 18 assisted), 5.0 sacks (61 yards), 10.5 tackles for a loss (76 yards), one fumble recovery, and eight quarterback hurries in 10 games played. Johnson's efforts earned himself an invite to mini-camp with the NFL's New England Patriots this past summer.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE OF NEW ENGLAND
Originally founded in 1984 as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), and reconstituted as the Conference of New England (CNE) in 2024, the CNE is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of 10 full member and five associate member institutions throughout the New England region. Its membership aims to provide student-athletes with a positive experience in their pursuit of excellence through high academic standards, quality competition and a meaningful student life. The Conference administers championships in 20 intercollegiate sports.