SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 5, 2026) – Three student-athletes have earned Golden Bear Athletes of the Week this week following performances to ring in the New Year over the weekend, leading to victories for their respective sports. Men's Ice Hockey's Matthew Dougherty, women's basketball's Hannah Blake, and men's basketball's Avery Mickens pick up honors. 

Dougherty led the Western New England men's ice hockey team this past weekend at the 60^th Annual Codfish Bowl Tournament. Dougherty opened the tournament with an assist on the lone WNE goal of the game against Worcester State University. The next day, Dougherty helped lead the Golden Bears to their third overall win of the season and second on the year against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), scoring two goals in regulation time to get the game to overtime, where WNE earned a 3-2 victory in the extra session. Dougherty's two goals were his first two of the season and 15^th and 16^th of his career at WNE. 

Blake poured in 17 points and hauled in ten rebounds, on her way to her first career double-double this past weekend against Gordon College. Blake shot 7/11 from the field, going 3/4 at the free-throw line for the Golden Bears. The senior also picked up two assists and a block for Western New England in the 71-52 victory. Blake is now averaging over ten points a game and over four rebounds a game, helping the Golden Bears to an 8-3 record over 11 games so far this season. 

Mickens was lights out from the outside in this past weekend's Conference of New England game against Gordon College, scoring 15 points, all from beyond the arc. Mickens was an efficient 5/7 from the outside for Western New England to match a career-high with 15 points and also came around with a rebound, an assist, and a steal for the Golden Bears in a 95-67 win. Mickens has dropped 15 points in each of his last two games, shooting 8/11 from three-point land over that two-game stretch. 

Western New England men's ice hockey begins Conference of New England play again for the first time in 2026 when they travel to Endicott College on Thursday, January 8, for a 7:00 PM puck drop.

Both the Western New England men's and women's basketball teams will take on Endicott College on the road on Tuesday, January 6, for important CNE matchups.