Robert "Bobby" Staring has become the second consecutive member of the West Point men's club hockey team to garner ACHA Northeast Region Player of the Year honors. Staring, an offensively gifted defenseman, amassed 23 goals and 45 points in 24 regular season games. The junior follows teammate and 2024 Northeast winner Caleb Kaiser as one of four regional honorees.

Kaiser, a senior center, led Army to its first trip to ACHA Division II nationals a year ago and Staring spearheaded the repeat trip. The Black Knights (19-4-3), who are the Northeast Region's No. 1 seed, open pool play Friday against the No. 4-seeded University of Texas at the Centene Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Mo. Army then faces No. 3 St. Thomas on Saturday and No. 2 Liberty on Sunday. The pool winner advances to Monday's semifinals and the national title game is Tuesday. 

"It's an honor being named player of the year, but I couldn't have done it without the guys on this team," said Staring, who produced three points in nine regular-season games, including two goals and an assist in the 7-3 victory over Navy on Dec. 12 in Washington D.C. "We have a great group that brings the lunchpail and goes to work every day. We started the season with the goal of winning a national championship and have put ourselves in a good spot to go out to St. Louis and earn it."

Staring also was named Super East Collegiate Hockey League player of the year after Army captured its third straight conference title.