ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Five members of the RIT Men's Hockey team have been named finalists for 2026 Atlantic Hockey America major awards, announced Thursday.
 
Sophomore Jakub Krbecek is a finalist for Goaltender of the Year, while first-year forwards Evan Konyen and Zach Wigle are both in the running for Rookie of the Year. Senior Simon Isabelle is also a finalist for Best Defensive Forward, while Head Coach Matt Thomas is in the mix for Coach of the Year. Winners of each awards will be announced next Tuesday (March 17).

JAKUB KRBECEK – SOPHOMORE – PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

• Voted AHA Second-Team All-Conference, Krbecek was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award and was named to the Mike Richter Award watchlist during the season.
• He ended the season tied for 11th in the country in victories, finishing with a 17-15-1 record, while also ranking 20th with a .916 save percentage and a 2.32 goals-against average.
• Krbecek tied a career-high with 44 saves in a 1-0 win over eighth-ranked Penn State (Jan. 3) for his first career shutout. 
• He was named the October AHA Goaltender of the Month after compiling a 4-1-0 record in five starts, highlighted by a 39-save performance during the 7-3 win over Air Force (Oct. 25) and 28 saves in the 6-2 win over Clarkson (Oct. 18) in the Brick City Homecoming game. 
• Krbecek landed his first career AHA Goaltender of the Week honor (Nov. 4) after stopping a combined 42 of 44 shots in back-to-back wins over Colgate (Oct. 31-Nov. 1).
• He logged 42 saves, including 16 in the third period, in the Tigers' 2-1 OT setback at Holy Cross (Mar. 6) in the opening game of the AHA Quarterfinals. 

EVAN KONYEN – FIRST-YEAR – NEWMARKET, ONTARIO

• Named to the AHA All-Rookie Team, Konyen led RIT with 12 goals and finished third with 24 points, tying for first among all AHA first-year players in goals and ranking second in points.
• He was named the AHA Rookie of the Month for January, totaling nine points on five goals and four assists, including two game-winning tallies during 10 outings.
• Konyen scored the game-winning goal in RIT's 1-0 shutout of No. 8 Penn State (Jan. 3) on his way to AHA Rookie of the Week honors.
• His first-career goal came in a 6-2 win over Clarkson (Oct. 18) in the Brick City Homecoming game.
• Konyen notched two goals for first career multi-point game in 3-2 setback at Clarkson (Dec. 29).
• He was credited with the game-winner, along with an assist and two blocked shots in the Tigers' 3-2 overtime win over Robert Morris (Jan. 10) and also had a goal and an assist in 3-2 OT win at Army (Feb. 7) 

ZACH WIGLE – FIRST-YEAR – OAKVILLE, ONTARIO

• An AHA All-Rookie Team selection, Wigle tied for first on the team with 25 points while leading the way with 17 assists.
• He led all AHA first-year players in points and assists while ranking fourth in time on ice (19:55/game).
• Wigle finished fifth in the AHA with 363 faceoff wins, including 18 games with double-digit wins, while his .561 faceoff winning percentage ranked second among AHA skaters with at least 200 attempts.
• He notched first career goal and won 10-of-15 faceoffs in 7-3 win vs. Air Force (Oct. 25) to start a six-game point streak.
• Wigle logged the game-winning assist along with 16-of-23 faceoff wins in the 1-0 upset of No. 8 Penn State (Jan. 3).
• He scored a goal and won a career-high 19 faceoffs on 25 attempts for a .760 winning percentage--also a personal best--in the 3-3 home tie versus Niagara (Jan. 24)
• Wigle scored the Tigers' lone goal and won 13-of-19 faceoffs in 2-1 OT AHA Quarterfinal setback at Holy Cross (Mar. 6) before adding an assist and 18-of-28 faceoff wins in the 5-4 OT setback the following night (Mar.7).

SIMON ISABELLE – SENIOR – WHITEHORSE, YUKON TERRITORY

• Isabelle tied for sixth on the team with 15 points on five goals and 10 assists.
• He was also second for the Tigers with 264 faceoff victories and second with a .499 FOW% while tying for second among forwards with 22 blocked shots.
• Isabelle totaled a career-high three points on a goal and two assists while blocking two shots and winning 9-of-15 faceoffs in the 6-2 homecoming victory over Clarkson (Oct. 18).
• He followed that with two assists in the 5-1 in over Air Force (Oct. 24).
• Isabelle scored the overtime game-winning goal and won 12-of-17 faceoffs in the 3-2 victory at Army (Feb. 7).
• He finished his Tiger career with 59 points (26G/33A) in 141 games played the last four seasons.
• Isabelle served as an alternate captain for the 2025-26 season. 

MATT THOMAS – HEAD COACH – 1ST SEASON

• Thomas led RIT to a 17-17-2 record - a seven-win improvement over the Tigers' 2024-25 campaign.
• RIT allowed over a goal less per game compared to last season, finishing 22nd nationally in scoring defense (2.67) this winter.
• The Tiger penalty kill also ranked among the nation's best throughout the year, starting the season only giving up five total power play goals in its first 19 games.
• Thomas led RIT on a nine-game winning streak (Oct. 18-Nov. 15) during the season – tied for the third longest in D1-era program history.
• RIT earned the fifth seed for the AHA Tournament after finishing with a 13-11-2 conference mark.
• A 1998 RIT graduate and former men's hockey team captain, Thomas returned to his alma mater as with over 26 years of coaching experience, including the previous four as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League Providence Bruins.