BROCKPORT, NY - On Thursday, March 5th, the Empire 8 Conference announced its selections for Men's Ice Hockey All-Conference and individual awards. Nick Reif, Kyle Kussmann, and David Filak all earned All-Conference honors, with Reif sweeping both the UCHC and Empire 8 Rookie of the Year awards. Josh Higgins was named to the Empire 8 Tomorrow's Leaders Team. 

First Team All-Conference / Rookie of the Year - Nick Reif 

Earning UCHC Rookie of the Year honors earlier this week, Nick Reif landed on the Empire 8 First Team and secured Rookie of the Year following a standout rookie campaign. Leading the Golden Eagles with nine goals and 21 points on the season, Reif provided one of the best debut seasons in recent memory. His 21 points serve as the most of any Brockport skater since the 2022-23 season, posting the most single-season points by a rookie skater since Jacob King (29) in the 2021-22 season. His season highlights include a three-goal effort in a win against Neumann (6-2) in his second career outing, and multi-point outings against Elmira (G, A), Nazareth (2A), and Geneseo (G, A). 

Second Team All-Conference - Kyle Kussmann

Serving as a dynamic freshman defenseman for the Green and Gold, Kyle Kussmann secured All-Conference honors as a true two-way threat for Brockport. Finishing the season with a team second-best 13 assists, Kussmann posted four goals and 17 points on the season, blocking 20 shots across 23 games played. The Ontario natives' season highlights include a pair of three-point outings against Fredonia (G, 2A) and Manhattanville (3A), in addition to a multi-point performance against St. John Fisher (G, A).    

Second Team All-Conference - David Filak

David Filak rounded out the All-Conference selections for Brockport, landing on the Second Team following an excellent season as the squad's primary goaltender. Across 15 starts for the Green and Gold, Filak racked up 510 saves on a strong 91.9 save percentage, allowing less than three goals per contest (2.94 GAA). The Northville, MI native thrived under pressure, providing four outings with 40+ saves, including a 55-save game in Brockport's win over #10 SUNY Geneseo back in February. Despite a losing effort, Filak posted a career-high 61 save performance against Chatham in the UCHC First Round, forcing the contest to endure three overtimes. 

Empire 8 Tomorrow's Leaders - Josh Higgins

A four-year member of the Brockport Ice Hockey program, Josh Higgins was named as the Golden Eagles' representative on the E8 Tomorrow's Leaders team. Suiting up in 34 games in his career from the defensemen spot, Higgins has served as a leader for the squad throughout his tenure, posting a goal, an assist, and 19 blocked shots. Higgins provided a gutsy effort against Albertus Magnus in February, blocking four shots in the contest. 

Ice Hockey finished the 2025-26 season 10-16 overall and 6-10 in UCHC play, falling in the first round of the UCHC Tournament against Chatham in triple overtime, 4-3. The Golden Eagles clinched a UCHC Tournament birth in back-to-back seasons and secured ranked wins over #15 Chatham (2-1) and #10 SUNY Geneseo (3-2) on the season.