BEVERLY, Mass.—Hobart College sophomore defenseman Cooper Swift is the recipient of the Elite 90 Award for the 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship.
 
An economics major, Swift carries a 3.925 cumulative grade point average. He was presented with the award during the men's hockey championship banquet this evening. Swift was a 2021-22 AHCA All-American Scholar.
 
Swift is the first Statesman to earn the Elite 90 Award and the second student-athlete from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. William Smith's Jessie Tarantino '12 won the award at the 2011 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship.
 
On the ice, Swift has played in 25 games this season and has produced 11 points on two goals and nine assists. He scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the Statesmen's 5-1 NCAA quarterfinal win over Curry on Saturday. Swift is tied for the team lead with 25 blocked shots. Hobart (27-2-0) leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 1.18 goals per game.
 
The No. 2 ranked Statesmen will face No. 4 Endicott in the NCAA semifinals Friday at 7 p.m.
 
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
 
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
 
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to ncaa.com/elite-90.