Full Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 26, 2026) – Western New England women's ice hockey sophomore Michaela Birmingham has been named to the CCM Hockey/AHCA Division III Women's All-American Third Team, becoming the first Golden Bear in program history to receive All-American honors following a stellar sophomore season. 

Birmingham, who was named to the Conference of New England All-Conference First Team earlier this month, adds All-American accolades, becoming the first All-American, male or female, to be honored in Western New England Ice Hockey history. Birmingham had a standout season both offensively and at her native defensive position. The Enfield, Connecticut, native played in all 27 games for the Golden Bears during the 2025-26 season, which saw the Golden Bears come away with an 18-8-1 record and pick up 25 points, averaging just shy of a point per game. Birmingham tallied a career-high seven goals, five in CNE play, along with a career-high 18 assists, 13 of which came against conference opponents. 

As a defenseman, Birmingham led the team in shots with 143, the most on the team by over 30 shots. Birmingham's 2025-26 season consisted of four power play goals, three game-winning goals, two in conference play, and scored two overtime winners on the year. Defensively, Birmingham notched 33 blocked shots, the third-most on the team. 

The sophomore has now played in 53 games over two seasons with the Blue and Gold, picking up 11 goals, 31 assists, 42 points, and 215 shot attempts over that span. Birmingham carried the brunt of the defensive load, playing against some of the nation's top offenses this season, including No. 9 Endicott (four times), Williams College, No. 2 Amherst College, and (RV) Oswego State University. 

Birmingham played a major role in Western New England's run to the Conference of New England title game, their second appearance in the championship game in just their fifth full season of the program's existence. With the help of the newly named All-American, the Golden Bears ranked in the top 20 in multiple offensive categories, including total assists (16^th), total goals (14^th), power play goals (3^rd), power play percentage (3^rd), scoring margin (20^th), scoring offense (17^th), team points (19^th), and winning percentage (19^th). Individually, Birmingham ranked nationally in assists per game (0.67 - 28^th), power play goals (4 – 27^th), and points per game (0.93 – 63^rd).

Birmingham is the only representative from the Conference of New England to earn honors this season on the CCM Hockey/AHCA Division III Women's All-America Teams. Birmingham joins Trinity Walsh (Middlebury College), Maeve Reynolds (Amherst College), Avery McInerny (Middlebury College), Claire Murphy (Williams College), and Madison Brunet (Norwich University) on the All-American East Third Team. 

Congratulations, Michaela!