LAKE PLACID — Colby College coach Blaise MacDonald was named as the American Hockey Coaches Association coach of the year Thursday as he prepared for tonight’s NCAA Division III national semifinal against St. Norbert at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid.

MacDonald led his club to a 17-10-2 mark after starting the season at 10-10-0. His team is riding a nine-game unbeaten streak, including seven wins, heading into tonight’s game that is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Salve Regina will take on defending champion Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the other semifinal today at 3 p.m. The winners of each game will face off Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Olympic Center with a national championship on the line.

MacDonald was the founding coach of Niagara’s varsity hockey program, leading the Purple Eagles into Division I hockey in their third year. In 1999-2000, he led Niagara to a mark of 30-8-4 and was voted College Hockey America Coach of the Year. MacDonald won 145 games during his decade at UMass-Lowell.

His 15 seasons with those varsity programs followed 11 years as an assistant coach at Dartmouth (1985-87), Princeton (1987- 88), UMass-Lowell (1988-90) and Boston University (1990-96.) Working alongside legendary Terrier head coach Jack Parker, MacDonald helped Boston University to a national championship at the NCAA Frozen Four in 1995 as the associate head coach. Overall in 21 seasons, he has compiled a record of 298-311-79.

The AHCA also announced its Division II and III All-Americans and the Division III player of the year Colin Larkin, of UMass Boston. Larkin compiled 24 goals and 22 assists in 27 games this year, finishing his career with a line of 64-84-148 in 111 career games. His point totals went up each season as did his honors.

Larkin is now a two-time NEHC Player of the Year, two-time first team CCM All American, and was just named winner of the Joe Concannon Award by the Gridiron Club of Boston as the best American-born Division III player in New England.