2006 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Men s. Awards Banquet. March 16 3:45 pm Rivercentre Saint Paul, MN

Transcription

1 2006 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Men s Awards Banquet presented by RBC Financial Group March 16 3:45 pm Rivercentre Saint Paul, MN

2 2006 WCHA Awards banquet Program 3:45 pm Welcome & Opening Remarks Doug Spencer, WCHA Associate Commissioner for Public Relations 3:50 pm Introduction of Representative from Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy Center 3:52 pm Introduction of Representative from RBC Financial Group 3:54 pm Introduction of WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod 4:00 pm WCHA Highlight Video Presentation 4:10 pm Recognition of WCHA Scholar-Athletes and All-WCHA Academic Team 4:14 pm Recognition of WCHA Scoring Champion 4:16 pm Recognition of WCHA Goaltending Champion 4:18 pm Announcement of All-WCHA Rookie Team, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:22 pm Announcement of All-WCHA Third Team, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:26 pm Announcement of All-WCHA Second Team, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:30 pm Announcement of All-WCHA First Team, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:34 pm Announcement of WCHA Rookie of the Year, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:36 pm Announcement of WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:38 pm Announcement of WCHA Coach of the Year, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:42 pm Announcement of WCHA Player of the Year, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:44 pm Announcement of WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year, presented by RBC Financial Group 4:46 pm Announcement of Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top 10 Finalists and Video Presentation 4:59 pm Closing Comments 5:00 pm Media Interviews of Award Winners; Banquet Service Begins 7:37 pm Faceoff - Game Red Baron WCHA Final Xcel Energy Center wcha awards announced denver defenseman matt carle makes history, earns both wcha Player of the Year and wcha defensive player of the year awards; denver s ted o leary named wcha Student-Athlete of the Year; minnesota s phil kessel named wcha rookie of the year; wcha coach of the year award shared by don lucia of minnesota and bob motzko of st. cloud state; denver s paul stastny is wcha scoring champion; wisconsin s brian elliott is wcha goaltending champion WCHA player of the Year matt carle, jr, d, university of denver WCHA student-athlete of the year ted o leary, Sr, F, university of denver WCHa defensive player of the year matt carle, jr, d, university of denver WCHA rookie of the year phil kessel, fr, f, university of minnesota WCHA coach of the Year Don Lucia, university of Minnesota bob motzko, st. cloud state university WCHA scoring champion paul stastny, so, f, university of denver WCHA goaltending champion brian elliott, jr, university of wisconsin SAINT PAUL, Minn. Two upperclassmen from the University of Denver defenseman Matt Carle and forward Ted O Leary together took home three of the top individual awards given out by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association today (March 16) at the league s 2006 Awards Banquet, presented by RBC Financial Group and held at Rivercentre in Saint Paul, Minn. A junior and assistant team captain, Carle (Anchorage, AK) became the first player in WCHA history to earn both the WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year honors, while O Leary (Arvada, Co), was named the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year. The annual league awards presentation marks the start of the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five championship weekend, being held today through Saturday (March 18) at Xcel Energy Center. The WCHA Rookie of the Year award for went to freshman forward Phil Kessel of the University of Minnesota, the WCHA Scoring Champion was University of Denver forward Paul Stastny, and the WCHA Goaltending Champion was Brian Elliott of the University of Wisconsin. The WCHA Coach of the Year award for was shared by the University of Minnesota s Don Lucia and St. Cloud State University s Bob Motzko. The WCHA Player of the Year Award, presented by RBC Financial Group, is voted on by coaches, student-athletes, sports information directors and media, while the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league s ten head coaches. Carle, who also earned All-WCHA First Team honors for the second straight season, is the top scoring defenseman both in the WCHA and in Div. 1 hockey though March 9 with 11 goals, 39 assists and 50 points, an average of 1.39 points per game. The 'complete package', he quarterbacks the Pioneers top-rated WCHA power-play, is a primary penalty-killer, averages over 30 minutes of on-ice time per game, and leads his team in blocked shots. He was also named to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the second time, carrying an overall grade-point average of 3.3 in Real Estate/Construction Management, was honored as WCHA Defensive Player of the Week three times during the regular season, and shows career numbers of 29 goals, 91 assists and 120 points in 109 games played for the two-time defending national champions. Carle was a First Team All-American selection in The WCHA Student Athlete of the Year Award, presented by RBC Financial Group, went to four-year veteran forward and assistant team captain Ted O Leary of University of Denver. O Leary, a senior who carries a 3.89 cumulative grade-point average at DU, represents the epitome of the collegiate student-athletes. He is an

3 matt carle, d, denver ted o leary, f, denver phil kessel, f, minnesota paul stastny, f, denver brian elliott, g, wisconsin don lucia, minnesota enthusiastic participant in community programs, especially those serving children, is involved in the reading program at a nearby elementary school, and pays regular visits to a local children s hospital. Originally a walk-on at DU, O Leary is a four-year member of the Pioneer hockey team and two-time national champion, is currently working toward an MBA within a 3/2 program and is a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and member of the All-WCHA Academic Team. He has already completed work toward his bachelor s degree in Biology which will serve to help him gain admission to medical school. One of the team s top defensive specialists, O Leary has played in 34 of his team s 36 games this season with just four minor penalties. His career totals show 64 games played with one goal, five assists and six scoring points. The WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award is determined from nominations made by the member institutions and each institution then has one final vote. The criteria is as follows: 1) must be a senior student-athlete, i.e. one who is finishing his competition as an eligible player in the WCHA; 2) consistently displays outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice; 3) is a good student making satisfactory progress toward a degree; and 4) is a good hockey player who has performed consistently as a regular member of the team. The WCHA Rookie of the Year Award for , presented by RBC Financial Group, went to University of Minnesota centerman Phil Kessel (Madison, WI), who topped all first-year players in the WCHA in scoring during the regular season with 14 goals, 28 assists and 42 points overall and in 28 conference games. He was also named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team and ranked second both nationally and among his Golden Gopher teammates in scoring through March 9. He was honored as WCHA Rookie of the Week three times this winter and also earned the Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Month award this past November. For the first time since the award was first presented in , two individuals shared the WCHA Coach of the Year award in Don Lucia of Minnesota and Bob Motzko of St. Cloud State. Lucia, who previously won the coach of the year honor with Colorado College in both and , guided his Golden Gophers to the WCHA championship and MacNaughton Cup with a league mark and to the nation s No. 1 ranking with an overall record of through March 9. Minnesota was the only team in the WCHA to register a victory against every other conference opponent in Motzko, who is in his first season behind the bench of the SCSU Huskies and formerly served as an assistant coach at UM, has led his club to a overall record through March 9 and to a top 20 ranking in the national polls. The Huskies, who finished ninth in the WCHA a year ago, moved up three places to sixth this in the final conference regular season standings and were in the running for a top five league until the final weekend of the regular season. Along the way, SCSU recorded victories over the likes of nationally-ranked Minnesota, Denver, North Dakota, Colorado College, and Northern Michigan. The WCHA Scoring Champion is University of Denver sophomore center Paul Stastny (St. Louis, MO), who led the conference with 15 goals, 29 assists and 44 points in 28 games. The son of NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny and the first Denver player to win the league scoring title since Dave Shields in , Paul also earned All-WCHA First Team selection, is a member of the All-WCHA Academic Team, and was a two-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honoree. The WCHA Goaltending Champion for is Brian Elliott, a junior at the University of Wisconsin. Elliott topped the conference in both goals-against average at 1.84, saves percentage at.930, and shared the best record in the WCHA at His 1.84 GAA was the sixth best in the 54-year history of the WCHA. Elliott was also named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week five times, was the Hockey Commissioners Association National Player of the Month last November, and as of March 9, ranked first in winning percentage at.796 on a overall record, was second nationally in goals-against average at 1.76, and was third in saves percentage at.931. Named to the All-WCHA First Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are league games only): F - Ryan Potulny, Jr, Minnesota (28 gp, ); F - Brett Sterling, Sr, Colorado College (27 gp, ); F - Paul Stastny, So, Denver (28 gp, ); D - Matt Carle, So, Denver (28 gp, ); D - Tom Gilbert, Sr, Wisconsin (28 gp, ); G - Bobby Goepfert, Jr, St. Cloud State ( , 2.09 GAA,.926 SV%). Both Sterling, who was the Hockey Commissioners Association National Player of the Month this past October, and Carle are repeat first team selections. Potulny, who was the HCA s National Player of the Month for February, and Gilbert were All-WCHA Third Team choices in Stastny was a member of the All-WCHA Rookie Team a year ago bob motzko, st. cloud state while Goepfert is in his first playing season at SCSU after transferring from Providence. Named to the All-WCHA Second Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are league games only): F - Joe Pavelski, So, Wisconsin (28 gp, ); F - Marty Sertich, Sr, Colorado College (28 gp, ); F - David Backes, Jr, Minnesota State (27 gp, ); D - Alex Goligoski, So, Minnesota (28 gp, ); D - Brian Salcido, Jr, Colorado College (28 gp, ); G - Brian Elliott, Jr, Wisconsin (15-3-3, 1.84 GAA,.930 SV%). Sertich earned another all-league honor, after being a first team choice in , Backes was a third team choice last winter, and both Pavelski and Goligoski were members of the All-WCHA Rookie Team as freshmen. Elliott, meanwhile, was the HCA National Player of the Month this past November. Members of the All-WCHA Third Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are for league games only): F - Drew Stafford, Jr, North Dakota (28 gp, ); F - Ryan Dingle, So, Denver (27 gp, ); F - Danny Irmen, Jr, Minnesota (18 gp, ); D - Chris Harrington, Sr, Minnesota (27 gp, ); D - Matt Smaby, Jr, North Dakota (28 gp, ); G - Jordan Parise, Jr, North Dakota (13-7-0, 2.41 GAA,.924 SV%). Irmen, who was also a third team choice in , was the HCA National Player of the Month in January. Nine players who were named to the three all-league teams this season were also honored with selection to the All-WCHA Academic Team. They were: Brett Sterling, F, Colorado College; Matt Carle, D, Denver; Paul Stastny, F, Denver; David Backes, F, Minnesota State; Jordan Parise, G, North Dakota; Matt Smaby, F, North Dakota; Drew Stafford, F, North Dakota; Brian Elliott, G, Wisconsin; and Tom Gilbert, D, Wisconsin. Named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are for league games only): F - Phil Kessel, Fr, Minnesota (28 gp, ); F - T.J. Oshie, Fr, North Dakota (28 gp, ); F - Mason Raymond, Fr, Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, ); D - Chris Butler, Fr, Denver (26 gp, ); D - Brian Lee, Fr, North Dakota (28 gp, ); G - Dan Tormey, Fr, Minnesota State ( , 2.83 GAA,.903 SV%). Kessel and Oshie were both second on their respective teams in scoring thru March 9, Raymond led the Bulldogs, and Kessel, Oshie, Butler and Lee were all members of the U.S. National Junior Team. Voting for the WCHA s annual post-season awards is done by Association-member team coaches, players, sports information directors and media. After member head coaches submit nominees from their own teams in each respective category to the league office, the ten member institutions then each receive eight final voting ballots which contain the coaches nominations as well as space for additional write-in candidates. Points for the all-league teams are awarded on a 5 (first team vote), 3 (second team vote), 1 (third team vote) basis. The WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league s head coaches while the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year is chosen by institutional representatives.

4 ryan potulny, f, minnesota brett sterling, f, colorado college paul stastny, f, denver matt carle, d, denver All-WCHA First Team Pos Name Team Hgt Wgt Yr Hometown Pts F Ryan Potulny Minnesota Jr Grand Forks, ND 367 F Brett Sterling Colorado College Sr Pasadena, CA 287 F Paul Stastny Denver So St. Louis, MO 266 D Matt Carle Denver Jr Anchorage, AK 390 D Tom Gilbert Wisconsin Sr Bloomington, MN 304 G Bobby Goepfert St. Cloud State Jr Kings Park, NY All-WCHA Second Team Pos Name Team Hgt Wgt Yr Hometown Pts F Joe Pavelski Wisconsin So Plover, WI 204 F Marty Sertich Colorado College Sr Roseville, MN 143 F David Backes Minnesota State Jr Blaine, MN 138 D Alex Goligoski Minnesota So Grand Rapids, MN 222 D Brian Salcido Colorado College Jr Hermosa Beach, CA 174 G Brian Elliott Wisconsin Jr Newmarket, ON All-WCHA Third Team Pos Name Team Hgt Wgt Yr Hometown Pts F Drew Stafford North Dakota Jr Faribault, MN 131 F Ryan Dingle Denver So Steamboat Springs, CO 118 F Danny Irmen Minnesota Jr Fargo, ND 113 D Chris Harrington Minnesota Sr St. Cloud, MN 122 D Matt Smaby North Dakota Jr Minneapolis, MN 76 G Jordan Parise North Dakota Jr Faribault, MN 58 tom gilbert, d, wisconsin All-WCHA Rookie Team Pos Name Team Hgt Wgt Yr Hometown Votes F Phil Kessel Minnesota Fr Madison, WI 73 F T.J. Oshie North Dakota Fr Warroad, MN 72 F Mason Raymond Minnesota Duluth Fr Cochrane, AB 40 D Chris Butler Denver Fr St. Louis, MO 55 D Brian Lee North Dakota Fr Moorhead, MN 50 G Dan Tormey Minnesota State Fr Syracuse, NY 55 bobby goepfert, g, st. cloud state

5 wcha scholar-athletes, all-wcha academic team WCHA Scholar-Athletes announced MADISON, Wisc. The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, through Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod, Associate Commissioner Sara Martin, University of Wisconsin Faculty Representative Linda Baumann (Chair, men s league) and St. Cloud State University Faculty Representative Bill Hudson (Chair, women s league) announced on March 2 an inaugural group of 50 WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award recipients, a new honor developed though Association member team Faculty Representatives and approved by the conference membership for this season. In keeping with a long-standing tradition of promoting excellence both on the ice and in the classroom, the WCHA is extremely pleased to announce this new annual award, said McLeod, Martin, Baumann and Hudson in a joint statement. This is truly a significant development and all of this year s recipients should be extremely proud of their tremendous accomplishments as student-athletes. On behalf of the entire WCHA family faculty representatives, athletic directors, coaches, staff and fellow student-athletes we congratulate them all. To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, conference-member student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution. This year s first group of men s and women s WCHA Scholar-Athletes were recognized and honored on-ice at member team home games during the final weeks of the season and presented with a commemorative plaque. The winners have also been recognized in the men s and women s post-season tournament programs and will also be mentioned in future men s and women s conference yearbooks. By school, and in alphabetical order, are WCHA Men s Scholar-Athletes: Colorado College: John Brunkhorst (Jr, F, Rochester, MN); Scott McCulloch (So, F, Lacombe, AB); Brett Sterling (Sr, F, Pasadena, CA); Lee Sweatt (Jr, D, Elburn, IL). University of Denver: Zach Blom (Jr, D, Englewood, CO); Steven Cook (Jr, F, Denver, CO); J.D. Corbin (Jr, F, Littleton, CO); Danny King (Jr, G, Colorado Springs, CO); Brock McMorris (Jr, F, Cherry Hills, CO); Ted O Leary (Sr, F, Arvada, CO). Michigan Tech University: Brandon Schwartz (Sr, F, St. Cloud, MN); Tyler Skworchinski (Jr, F, Marathon, ON). University of Minnesota: Mike Howe (So, F, St. Cloud, MN); Evan Kaufmann (So, F, Plymouth, MN). Minnesota State University: David Backes (Jr, F, Blaine, MN); Ryan Carter (So, F, White Bear Lake, MN); Chad Clower (Sr, F, Kelowna, BC); Joel Hanson (So, F, Elk River, MN); Ryan McKelvie (Sr, F, New Brighton, MN). University of North Dakota: Erik Fabian (Jr, F, Roseau, MN); Chris Porter (Jr, F, Thunder Bay, ON); Matt Smaby (Jr, D, Minneapolis, MN). St. Cloud State University: Nate Raduns (Jr, F, Sauk Rapids, MN); Matt Stephenson (So, D, Midland, ON). all-wcha academic team announced SAINT PAUL, Minn. A total of ninety-two (92) student-athletes, representing all 10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member institutions, were honored today (March 16) as members of the All-WCHA Academic Team at the annual WCHA Awards Banquet, presented by RBC Financial Group, and held at Rivercentre. This represents a gain of four student-athletes who earned All-WCHA Academic Team accolades over the previous season s total of 88, while 47 are repeat honorees. In addition to the 92 players named to the all-league s academic team, University of Denver senior forward Ted O Leary was honored as the recipient of the prestigious WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award, presented by RBC Financial Group. To earn a position on the All-WCHA Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following criteria: 1) have completed at least one year of residency at present institution prior to the current academic year; 2) have a grade point average of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his overall GPA is at least 3.00 for all terms at his present institution. An annual All-WCHA Academic Team was instituted by the conference beginning with the season. Following, by member institution, is the All-WCHA Academic Team: University of Alaska Anchorage: Chad Anderson* (Jr, D, Chisago City, MN); Luke Beaverson (So, D, Vadnais Heights, MN); Peter Cartwright (So, F, Anchorage, AK); Charlie Kronschnabel* (Jr, F, Mendota Heights, MN); Ryan McMullan (Jr, D, Eagle River, AK); Ales Parez* (Sr, F, Nymburk, Czech Republic); Mark Smith*, Jr, D, Edmonton, AB); Chris Tarkir (So, F, Fresno, CA); Blair Tassone (So, F, Castlegar, BC); Eric Walsky (So, F, Anchorage, AK). Colorado College: Joey Crabb (Sr, F, Anchorage, AK); Trevor Frischmon* (Sr, F, Ham Lake, MN); Jack Hillen (So, D, Minnetonka, MN); Chris Kawano (Jr, G, Aurora, CO); Scott McCulloch (So, F, Lacombe, AB); Brett Sterling* (Sr, F, Pasadena, CA); Jesse Stokke* (Sr, ales parez, uaa joey crabb, cc glenn fisher, du brandon schwartz, mtu gino guyer, um isaac reichmuth, umd ryan mckelvie, msu matt smaby, und joe jensen, scsu matt olinger, uw D/F, Hermantown, MN); Lee Sweatt* (Jr, D, Elburn, IL); Scott Thauwald* (Jr, F, Rochester, MN); Matt Zaba* (Jr, G, Yorkton, SK). University of Denver: Zach Blom (Jr, D, Englewood, CO); Matt Carle* (Jr, D, Anchorage, AK); Steven Cook (Jr, F, Denver, CO); J.D. Corbin* (Jr, F, Littleton, CO); Glenn Fisher* (Jr, G, Edmonton, AB); Ryan Helgason* (Jr, F, Woodbury, MN); Jon James* (Jr, D, Arnold, MD); Danny King* (Jr, G, Colorado Springs, CO); Brock McMorris* (Jr, F, Cherry Hills, CO); Ted O Leary* (Sr, F, Arvada, CO); Paul Stastny (So, F, St. Louis, MO); Andrew Thomas (So, D, Bow, NH). Michigan Tech University: Nick Anderson* (Sr, F, Winthrop Harbor, IL); Mike Batovanja (Jr, F, Hinton, AB); Kevin Hachey (So, G, Ontario, CA); Lars Helminen* (Jr, D, Brighton, MI); Mark Malekoff (So, D, Grande Prairie, AB); Pekka Saittakari* (Sr, D, Heinola, Finland); Brandon Schwartz* (Sr, F, St. Cloud, MN); Tyler Skworchinski* (Jr, F, Marathon, ON). University of Minnesota: Kellen Briggs* (Jr, G, Colorado Springs, CO); Gino Guyer* (Sr, F, Coleraine, MN); Mike Howe (So, F, Oakdale, MN); Evan Kaufmann (So, F, Plymouth, MN); Peter Kennedy* (Sr, D, Brookfield, NS); Derek Peltier (So, D, Plymouth, MN); Tom Pohl (So, F, Red Wing, MN). University of Minnesota Duluth: Dan Carlson (So, G, White Bear Lake, MN); Isaac Reichmuth (Sr, G, Fruitvale, BC). Minnesota State University: David Backes* (Jr, F, Blaine, MN); Chad Brownlee* (Jr, D, Kelowna, BC); Ryan Carter (So, F, White Bear Lake, MN); Chris Clark* (Jr, G, San Mateo, CA); Lucas Fransen* (Jr, D, Langley, BC); Joel Hanson (So, F, Elk River, MN); Mark Hinz (So, D, Waldheim, SK); Kurtis Kisio* (Jr, F, Calgary, AB); R.J. Linder (So, D, St. Cloud, MN); Shane McCormick (So, F, Mission, BC); Ryan McKelvie* (Sr, F, New Brighton, MN); Travis Morin* (Jr, F, Brooklyn Park, MN); Steve Wagner (So, D, Grand Rapids, MN). University of North Dakota: Robbie Bina (Jr, D, Grand Forks, ND); Erik Fabian* (Jr, F, Roseau, MN); Scott Foyt* (Jr, F/D, Andover, MN); Jordan Parise* (Jr, G, Faribault, MN); Chris Porter (Jr, F, Thunder Bay, ON); Matt Smaby (Jr, D, Minneapolis, MN); Drew Stafford (Jr, F, Faribault, MN); Travis Zajac (So, F, Winnipeg, MB). St. Cloud State University: Chris Anderson (So, D, North Oaks, MN); Tim Boron* (Jr, G, Winnipeg, MB); Aaron Brocklehurst (So, D, Nanaimo, BC); Justin Fletcher (Jr, D, Maryville, IL); Matt Francis (So, F, Surrey, BC); Andrew Gordon (So, F, Porters Lake, NS); Matt Hartman (So, F, St. CLoud, MN); Billy Hengen* (Sr, F, Eden Prairie, MN); Gary Houseman* (Jr, F, Saskatoon, SK); Joe Jensen* (Sr, F, Maple Grove, MN); T.J. McElroy* (Sr, D, Golden Valley, MN); Marty Mjelleli (So, F, Faribault, MN); Nate Raduns* (Jr, F, Sauk Rapids, MN); Konrad Reeder* (Sr, F, Vanderhoof, BC); Josh Singer* (Sr, D/F, Lino Lakes, MN); Matt Stephenson (So, D, Midland, ON). University of Wisconsin: Brian Elliott* (Jr, G, Newmarket, ON); Matthew Ford (So, F, West Hills, CA); Tom Gilbert (Sr, D, Bloomington, MN); Nick Licari* (Sr, F, Duluth, MN); Matt Olinger* (Jr, D, Madison, WI). * previous honoree

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