The New England Hockey Writers special awards have been announced and will be presented at the New England Hockey Writers annual awards banquet on Wednesday, April 16 at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus, Mass.

University of New Hampshire goalie Kevin Regan (So. Boston, Mass./Waterloo Blackhawks) was named New England's Most Valuable Player. The senior posted a 23-8-1 record with a 2.21 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. He was named a Hobey Baker Award top-10 finalist and led UNH to the NCAA Tournament.

Boston College junior Nathan Gerbe (Oxford, Mich./U.S. Under-18 Team) was voted New England's Best Forward. With BC heading into the NCAA Frozen Four, Gerbe ranks second in the nation in points (60) and third in goals (30). Gerbe was also named a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

Matt Gilroy (North Bellmore, N.Y./Walpole Jr. Stars), a junior from Boston University, was named Best Defenseman. Gilroy posted six goals and 15 assists for 21 points and a plus-17 rating on the blueline. Freshman teammate Colin Wilson (Winnipeg, Manitoba/U.S. Under-18 Team) was named New England Rookie of the Year after posting 12 goals and 23 assist for 35 points for BU.

Northeastern junior Joe Vitale (St. Louis, Mo./Sioux Falls Stampede) was named Most Improved Player. He led the improved Huskies with 35 points (12-23-35), more than doubling his previous career best of 16 points. Boston College senior Matt Greene (Plymouth, Mass./Boston College High) was named Best Defensive Foward after posting a plus-10 to go along with an 8-3-11 scoring line.

Massachusetts senior David Leaderer was named New England's Unsung Hero. Leaderer, a defenseman, played in 149 straight games, never missing a contest in his collegiate career, and posted 11 goals and 22 assists over his career.

New Hampshire's Dick Umile was named Div. I Coach of the Year. In a season of parity in Hockey East, Umile's Wildcats were the only standout team, posting a 19-5-3 record in the league to win the regular season title by eight points. The team earned a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a final record of 25-10-3.

The New England Hockey Writers banquet is college hockey's social event of the year. It will be held Wednesday, April 16 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Prince Restaurant on Route 1 in Saugus, Mass. Reservations must be made by April 14 with Northeastern Athletic Ticket Manager John Gruppo at 617-373-7409.