BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Senior
Connor Kalthoff was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Defensive Player of the Year and was one of four members of the St. Olaf College men's hockey team recognized in the 2024-25 MIAC Men's Hockey Awards, as announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Kalthoff was honored as St. Olaf's first MIAC Men's Hockey Defensive Player of the Year in the third season of the accolade. The senior was joined on the All-MIAC list by junior
Jonathan Panisa and sophomore
Tyler Green, while Panisa and first year
Matthew Malin represented St. Olaf on the MIAC All-Playoff Team.
Kalthoff helped St. Olaf post the joint second-stingiest defense in MIAC play this season, as the Oles held their opponents to 44 goals in 16 games (2.75 per game). The senior also chipped in with 11 points on two goals and nine assists offensively, leading to his third consecutive All-MIAC accolade. Kalthoff is just the third Ole to be a three-time All-MIAC honoree, joining Jason Haider '01 and John Paulson '08.
Panisa earned his first All-MIAC accolade after putting together one of the top offensive seasons in the conference with 19 points on 12 goals and seven assists in 16 MIAC games. The junior led the MIAC in goals, game-winning goals (3), and power-play goals (5), while ranking second in points. Panisa was one of four players to score a hat trick in MIAC play this season and held a plus-eight rating.
Green also picked up his first All-MIAC accolade after recording 16 points on four goals and 12 assists in 16 conference games this winter. The sophomore's 12 assists were tied for the second-highest total in the conference during the regular season, while his 16 points were tied for seventh. Green also was 10th in the MIAC in faceoff wins (131).
Malin and Panisa were St. Olaf's representatives on the eight-member MIAC All-Playoff Team after helping the Oles to a berth in the championship game. Malin went 1-1-0 with 40 saves, a 1.21 goals-against average, and a .952 save percentage in 98:56 between the pipes, while Panisa scored a goal in the semifinal win at Bethel University and had 13 shots on goal over the two games.
