ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT freshman forward Carter Wilkie was voted the 2021-22 Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year, announced Thursday. Wilkie is the fourth Tiger to garner the award. 

Wilkie quickly established himself as one of Atlantic Hockey's top first-year players, winning five of the first seven Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week honors of the season as well as Rookie of the Month recognition for October and November.

The Calgary, Alta., native finished the regular season ranked third in the conference with 27 points and second with 12 goals, He also notched his sixth game-winning goal of the season in the Tigers' 3-1 victory over Sacred Heart (Mar. 13) in the deciding game of the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinal series, which is tied for the second-highest total in the country

He scored the deciding tally 30 seconds into overtime in a 3-2 upset of current No. 9 Notre Dame on Oct. 21, and also notched the game-winner to seal RIT's 3-2 overtime win at AIC (Nov. 7).

Wilkie netted the deciding tally with 10.6 left in regulation to defeat host Niagara, 4-2 (Feb. 18) and recently won his seventh AHA Rookie of the Week honor after scoring the overtime game-winning goal to seal the Tigers' 3-2 win at Air Force (Feb. 25).

Also named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team, Wilkie entered the postseason tied for ninth among the nation's freshmen in scoring and tied for fourth in goals.

RIT is scheduled to face Air Force in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament Semifinals this Friday (Mar. 18) at 7:35 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. The winner advances to play for the conference championship on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with a berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line.

RIT ATLANTIC HOCKEY ROOKIE OF THE YEAR HONOREES
2021-22 - Carter Wilkie
2016-17  Adam Brubacher
2009-10 - Chris Tanev
2006-07 - Al Mazur