BOSTON, Massachusetts – The New England Hockey Writers Association has named American International College ice hockey senior defenseman and co-captain Evan Stella its winner of the 2024-25 Joe Tomasello Unsung Hero Award, the NEHWA announced on Wednesday, April 2.
"I am very excited and honored to receive the Joe Tomasello Unsung Hero Award. Lots of credit should go to my coaches, teammates, and professors, who all played a huge role in helping and supporting me throughout my college career. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to attend AIC and what a great experience it was with memories for a lifetime. Receiving this award makes me feel proud of the AIC program and the four years I had as a Yellow Jacket! I really appreciate the recognition and am very thankful for being selected," Stella said.
"There is no one more deserving of this prestigious award. Evan Stella was such a vital student-athlete to the Yellow Jacket roster in his four years. He modeled what most college coaches dream of having in a player, and more importantly as a person. As our captain, he led this team through one of the toughest situations anyone could imagine. His high character will push him forward through his next endeavors, and I'm so proud and grateful to have coached him here at American International College," Associate Head Ice Hockey Coach Matthew Woodard '09 said.
The award is named after Joe Tomasello, the manager of the then-Boston Arena (now Matthews Arena on the campus of Northeastern University.) His efforts allowed that arena to host Northeastern, Boston College, Boston University, and Harvard University all at once for many years, in addition to numerous high school hockey games including the Massachusetts state championship.
Stella became just the second player in the history of the ice hockey program at AIC to play in 150 games. The outstanding defenseman scored six goals and added 30 assists for 36 points in four seasons from 2021-25, and in 2022-23 led Atlantic Hockey with a +20 plus-minus rating. He was a member of AIC's 2021-22 team that won the AHA's regular season title and then captured the Jack Riley Memorial Trophy as AHA Tournament Champions.
He captained the team in 2024-25, and led by example, with a career-high 62 blocked shots as part of a campaign that saw him earn Third-Team All-AHA honors. He also has set a strong example in the classroom, earning Academic All-Conference accolades from the AHA in 2023-24 as well as the American Hockey Coaches Association's All-American Scholar award.
