Army West Point Athletics
Hockey Earns Two AHA Weekly Awards
October 20, 2026 | Hockey
BOSTON – Army West Point hockey senior Barron Woodring and freshman Noah Mertz collected AHA weekly awards as announced by the conference on Tuesday morning. Woodring was named the AHA Forward of the Week, while Mertz was named the AHA Defenseman of the Week. The duo combined for seven points in the Black Knights sweep of Holy Cross this past weekend to open conference play.
Barron Woodring, Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.
2 games, 4 points (2g-2a), 2PPG, 3 shots, 2 blocks, 17 Faceoffs
Woodring was crucial to the Black Knights success in sweeping RV Holy Cross to open AHA conference play. Woodring was a consistent presence for the Black Knights all over the ice across the two games collecting multiple face off wins and a multi-goal and multi-point weekend. The Black Knights recorded their first sweep to open conference play since the 2017-18 season. Woodring tied a career high in both points and assists in the first game of the weekend. Additionally, Woodring's two goals on the power play were part of an Army powerplay unit that went 5/10 on the weekend. He had three points in the victory on Saturday night (one goal, two assists) becoming the first Black Knight to record three points in a game since Ben Ivey on Feb. 20, 2026, against Air Force. Woodring ranks fifth in the conference in points per game with 1.33 and his two powerplay goals rank first in the conference.
Noah Mertz, Fr., Coventry, R.I.
2 games, 3 points (1g-2a), 1PPG, 1GWG, 4 shots, 2 blocks
Noah Mertz was spectacular the Black Knights in his first AHA series in college hockey. Mertz scored his first collegiate goal on the power play as part of a Black Knight powerplay that went 50% on the weekend. Mertz additionally scored the eventual series sweeping goal against the Crusaders. The Black Knights recorded their first sweep to open conference play since the 2017-18 season and the first of the Crusaders since Feb. 17-18, 2022 in Worcester, Mass. Additionally, Mertz recorded an assist during Saturday night's game on the Black Knights first of five power play goals this weekend.
Weekly Awards
AHA Forward of the Week 10/20/26: Barron Woodring
AHA Defenseman of the Week 10/20/26: Noah Mertz
The Black Knights return to action this weekend at No. 7/8 Quinnipiac on Friday evening and return home against the USNTDP on Saturday evening. Fans can purchase tickets to attend Saturday's game HERE.
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Hockey on X @ArmyWP_Hockey and on Instagram @armywp_hockey Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about hockey and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
Barron Woodring, Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.
2 games, 4 points (2g-2a), 2PPG, 3 shots, 2 blocks, 17 Faceoffs
Woodring was crucial to the Black Knights success in sweeping RV Holy Cross to open AHA conference play. Woodring was a consistent presence for the Black Knights all over the ice across the two games collecting multiple face off wins and a multi-goal and multi-point weekend. The Black Knights recorded their first sweep to open conference play since the 2017-18 season. Woodring tied a career high in both points and assists in the first game of the weekend. Additionally, Woodring's two goals on the power play were part of an Army powerplay unit that went 5/10 on the weekend. He had three points in the victory on Saturday night (one goal, two assists) becoming the first Black Knight to record three points in a game since Ben Ivey on Feb. 20, 2026, against Air Force. Woodring ranks fifth in the conference in points per game with 1.33 and his two powerplay goals rank first in the conference.
Noah Mertz, Fr., Coventry, R.I.
2 games, 3 points (1g-2a), 1PPG, 1GWG, 4 shots, 2 blocks
Noah Mertz was spectacular the Black Knights in his first AHA series in college hockey. Mertz scored his first collegiate goal on the power play as part of a Black Knight powerplay that went 50% on the weekend. Mertz additionally scored the eventual series sweeping goal against the Crusaders. The Black Knights recorded their first sweep to open conference play since the 2017-18 season and the first of the Crusaders since Feb. 17-18, 2022 in Worcester, Mass. Additionally, Mertz recorded an assist during Saturday night's game on the Black Knights first of five power play goals this weekend.
Weekly Awards
AHA Forward of the Week 10/20/26: Barron Woodring
AHA Defenseman of the Week 10/20/26: Noah Mertz
The Black Knights return to action this weekend at No. 7/8 Quinnipiac on Friday evening and return home against the USNTDP on Saturday evening. Fans can purchase tickets to attend Saturday's game HERE.
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Hockey on X @ArmyWP_Hockey and on Instagram @armywp_hockey Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about hockey and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20