Sam Best Goalie '98

INFORMATION

• Current Team:  TBD

• Alumni:  University of Massachusetts Boston

  • NCAA Division III, New England Hockey Conference (NEHC)

• Height:  5’10”

• Weight:  170 lbs.

• Catches:  Left

• Shoots:  Left

• Dual Citizenship:  USA/Canada

• DOB:  08/07/1998

• Hometown:  Woburn, Massachusetts

• High School Graduation Year:  2017

• College Graduation Year: 2023

• NCAA Eligibility Center: 1710934959

• Elite Prospects

• YouTube Channel

PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2023-2024

• UMass Boston Team Captain

• UMass Boston recipient of Athletic Director Award

• Recipient of Ryan P. Donovan Award

• NEHC Goalie of the Week - Week 5

• NEHC Goalie of the Week - Week 10

• NEHC Goalie of the Week - Week 11

• NEHC Honor Roll - Week 13

• NEHC All-Academic Team

RECORDS

• *UMB Program Record - Sets Career Shutout Mark*

• *UMB Program Record- 8 Shutouts*

2022-2023

• Recipient of Dennis W. Doherty MVP Award

• NEHC Goalie of the Week - Week 8

• NEHC All-Academic Team

• AHCA All-American Scholar

2021-2022

• Recipient of Ryan P. Donovan Award

• 56th Annual Codfish Bowl MVP

• Semifinalist for Joe Concannon Award (Top NCAA D-II/D-III player in New England)

• NEHC Second Team All-Conference

• NEHC Goalie of the Week - Week 9

• NEHC All-Academic Team

• AHCA All-American Scholar

RECORDS

• * UMB Program Record - 3 Consecutive Shutouts*

• * UMB Program Record - 215:31 Consecutive Scoreless Minutes*

2020-2021

• AHCA All-American Scholar

• NEHC All-Academic Team

2019-2020

• January 27, 2020 NEHC Rookie of the Week (NEHC)

• Best Earns NEHC Rookie of the Week Honors (UMass Boston)

2018-2019

• September 30, 2018 (Honorable Mention)

• October 14, 2018 (Honorable Mention)

• December 9, 2018 (Honorable Mention)

• December 23, 2018 (South Division Star of the Week)

• BEST NAMED NAHL STAR OF THE WEEK

• NAHL Star of the Week Video

• NAHL Star of the Week Twitter

• NAHL Monthly Player Awards for December 2018 (Honorable Mention)

2017-2018

• Southeast/Florida Premier Division All-Star

• Southeast/Florida Premier Player of the Week

• Southeast/Florida Premier Player of the Week

2016-2017

• Independent School League "Honorable Mention Recognition"

• Keller Division, Governor's Academy Article

2015-2016

• The Governor's Academy Varsity Ice Hockey "Most Valuable Player Award"

• Independent School League "All League Award"

• Keller Division, Governor's Academy Article

• Prep All-Scholastics All-Stars

2014-2015

• 8 shutouts for Woburn High School

• Middlesex League Hockey All-Star

• SB Nation Massachusetts HS Hockey All-State Third Team Article

• Represented Massachusetts on the Young Guns Team at CCM National Invitational Tournament in Minnesota

• Attended USHL Combine in Chicago

• Named MVP Goalie of the Chris Verwijst Tournament (Netherlands)

2013

• Attended USA Hockey National Player Development Camp

*2013-2017

• Dressed for all Varsity Hockey Games in High School

TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2022-2023

• 57th Annual Codfish Bowl Champions (UMB)

2021-2022

• 56th Annual Codfish Bowl Champions (UMB)

2018-2019

• Atlantic Hockey Conference Regular Season Champions (AIC)

• Atlantic Hockey Conference Champions (AIC)

• NCAA Tournament Berth (First in Program History, AIC)

• First NCAA Tournament Win in Program History (AIC)

2017-2018

• Southeast Division Champions (Charlotte Rush)

• Premier League Regular Season Champions (Charlotte Rush)

2016-2017

• East Coast College Cup Champions (Little Islanders)

2014-2015

• Undefeated in League Play, 1st time in Woburn High School History

• Won Liberty Division in Middlesex League

• Won Irish American Shoot Out Tournament

• Super 8 Play-In Game vs. Burlington

• MIAA Super 8 Appearance

• Super 8 Play-In Game Article (1)

• Super 8 Play-In Game Article (2)

• Super 8 Preview Article

• Super 8 Article (1)

• Super 8 Article (2)

• End of Super 8 Article

• Post Super 8 (1)

• Post Super 8 (2)

2013-2014

• Chris Verwijst Tournament Champions (Netherlands)

2010-2011

• Woburn VMSHL Champions

2010

• Middlesex Coyotes Summer League Champions

2008-2009

• Woburn Youth Hockey Cape Cod Champions 

PLAYING HISTORY

2023-2024

• (.915 Save Percentage / 2.81 GAA)

• 3 Shutouts

• 497 Saves

• 22 Games Played

• 981:53 Minutes

• UMass Boston (D-III) & Macon Mayhem (SPHL)

2022-2023

• (.909 Save Percentage / 2.68 GAA)

• 1 Shutout

• 510 Saves

• 20 Games Played

• 1,140:36 Minutes

• UMass Boston (D-III)

2021-2022

• (.914 Save Percentage / 2.40 GAA)

• 4 Shutouts

• 511 Saves

• 23 Games Played

• 1,202:13 Minutes

• UMass Boston (D-III)

2019-2020

• (.887 Save Percentage / 2.86 GAA)

• 212 Saves

• 11 Games Played (7 Games Started)

• 566:33 Minutes

• 4 Relief Appearances with 148:56 Minutes

• UMass Boston (D-III)

2018-2019

• (.915 Save Percentage / 2.71 GAA)

• 1 Shutout

• 667 Saves

• 23 Games Played

• 1,368:57 Minutes

• Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL) & American International College (D-I)

2017-2018

• (.945 Save Percentage / 1.69 GAA)

• 3 Shutouts

• 758 Saves

• 39 Games Played

• 1,562:46 Minutes

• Charlotte Rush ( USPHL Premier)

2016-2017

• (.927 Save Percentage / 2.74 GAA)

• 6 Shutouts

• 1,065 Saves

• 35 Games Played

• The Governor's Academy (ISL)

• Little Islanders Hockey Club

2015-2016

• (.945 Save Percentage / 2.46 GAA)

• 6 Shutouts

• 1,372 Saves

• 40 Games Played

• The Governor's Academy (ISL)

• Eastern Mass Senators U-18 Elite

2014-2015

• (.949 Save Percentage / 1.51 GAA)

• 13 Shutouts

• 1,016 Saves

• 41 Games Played

• Woburn High School Varsity (MIAA D-I)

• Eastern Mass Senators U-18 Elite

2013-2014

• (.951 Save Percentage / 1.16 GAA)

• 12 Shutouts

• 437 Saves

• 25 Games Played

• Woburn High School Varsity (MIAA D-I)

• U-16 Islanders Hockey Club Elite

2012-2013

• (.939 Save Percentage / 1.89 GAA)

• 12 Shutouts

• 780 Saves

• 38 Games Played

• '98 Islanders Hockey Club Elite

• VMSHL Woburn

In The News

2018-2019

• Goalie Fight via Barstool Sports

• Goalie Fight via TSN

• Goalie Fight via BarDown

• Goalie Fight Video

• Goalie Fight via Twitter

• NAHL Play of the Week (9/25/18)

• 1st Shutout

• IceRays New Franchise Record

• Friday Finals

• Diving Save via Twitter

• Sam Best Departs for College Hockey

• Sam Best First Rush Alumni to Division 1

• NAHL Sam Best College Hockey 

ACADEMICS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice

• Graduated GPA: 3.90

• Summa Cum Laude

• Dean's List (8 Semesters)

University of Massachusetts Boston

• 2023-2024 (Graduate Year)

• 2022-2023 (Senior Year)

• 2022-2021 (Junior Year)

• 2020-2021 (Sophomore Year)

• 2019-2020 (Freshman Year) 

The Governor's Academy

• 2016-2017 (Senior Year)

  • Dorm Proctor (Ingham Dorm)

  • Head Tour Guide of The Governor's Academy

  • Senior Ambassador for 2017 Senior Class

  • The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2017 and The Boston Globe Honorable Mention Art Portfolio For Excellence In Visual Arts

• 2015-2016 (Junior Year)

Woburn Memorial High School

• 2014-2015 (Sophomore Year)

• 2013-2014 (Freshman Year)

  • Excellence In Academics For Outstanding Academic Achievement

  • Excellence in Academics for Outstanding Academic Achievement in American History and Wellness