Frozen Four has Michigan flavor

So it’s early April again, the Frozen Four is just about set to face-off, and you find yourself wondering, “Who am I going to root for?”

All the Michigan teams are gone and even the familiar CCHA foes were knocked unconscious before they could even sniff the fine brats at Milwaukee’s Bradley Center. The cupboard may seem a little bare when it comes to teams to root for, but take heart for we have found a few morsels that may sustain you through the final three games.

For starters, if you’re a Michigan Tech fan maybe your allegiances lie with the WCHA, so you might do the unthinkable and cheer for North Dakota or Wisconsin.

A Michigan backer or Ferris State slappie could conceivably use the “they had to get through us” card and find themselves in Boston College’s corner since they both tangled with the Eagles this season. The Wolverines dropped a 3-2 at Yost in mid-October and the Bulldogs fell to BC in an overtime shootout at the Denver Cup in late December.

I’m not sure why a Michigan State diehard would pull for the Black Bears after Maine sprung the 5-4 win at this year’s NCAA East Regional Final, but who knows. Stranger things have happened.

So, maybe those aren’t the best reasons, but it’s something to keep the interest up. And oh yeah, here are some more tidbits to get you through Saturday night….

* Boston College freshman forward Nate Gerbe (pictured) is from Oxford, graduated from Ann Arbor Huron and skated with both the HoneyBaked Midget Major AAA travel team and the U.S. National Under-18 Team. Eagle teammates Stephen Gionta and Mike Brennan also laced ‘em up for the US Under-18 squad.

* First year Fighting Sioux defenseman Zach Jones is also an alum of the US Under-18 team.

* It’s a stretch, but North Dakota assistant coach Cary Eades skated for the better part of seven seasons in the now-defunct IHL for the Kalamazoo/Michigan K-Wings franchise

* Another former US Under-18 skater, Greg Moore, wears the “C” for Maine.

* Wisconsin boasts four former US Under-18 players with Jake Dowell, Robbie Earl, Jeff Likens and Jack Skille. Badgers' assistant coach Mark Osiecki played a full season in the “I” for the K-Wings and four glorious games for the legendary Detroit Vipers.

Special thanks to the Internet Hockey Database at HockeyDB.com for some of the best tidbits in this story. (Personal note, if you haven’t been to the HockeyDB yet, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Good times!)

Gerbe photo courtesy of the Boston College Athletics Department.

WSU women earn year-end recognition

The Wayne State University women's hockey team held its annual year-end awards ceremony on Saturday at St. Andrew's in Detroit.

Freshman Melissa Boal was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. Just 35 games into her collegiate career, Boal had an enormous impact on the team this year, setting several single-season records and rapidly climbing the all-time lists in several categories. She became the first Warrior in history to score four goals in a game on Feb. 25 against Robert Morris and established several new WSU single-season marks, including points (48), assists (25), and power-play goals (11). She ranks fourth all-time in points and is the active leader on the team. She also set new College Hockey America records for shots on goal (201), power-play goals, and power-play points (26).

Due to her display of scoring prowess this season, Boal was also presented with the "Top Gun" award, as her 48 points marked a team high, and her 25 assists tied for the team lead with classmate Lindsay DiPietro.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Sam Poyton, who set a school record on Jan. 20 against Rensselaer when she scored her 16th goal of the season, breaking the previous mark set by Emily McGrath-Agg in the 2003-04 campaign. By the end of the regular season, Poyton tallied 29 goals, matching the CHA record. She currently stands as the active goal-scoring leader on the team and in second on the all-time list behind former Warrior Kelly Zamora (34).

Sophomore forward Kristy Leng earned Most Improved Player honors, as she set career-highs in assists (7) and points (11) during the 2005-06 campaign. She also set a school record for assists in a period, tallying three in the second period on Jan. 21 against Rensselaer.

Senior blueliner Peyton Patterson earned the Best Defenseman award for the second straight year. With career-highs in assists (12) and points (13) this season, Patterson climbed her way into the WSU record books, as her 27 career points rank tied-for-15th all-time and her 24 assists tie for ninth.

Sophomore Ashley King was presented with the President's Award for academic success. A marketing major, King has the highest cumulative grade-point average on the team.

The Coaches' Award was given to senior Jessica Snelgrove (pictured), who was also honored for her service as the team captain this past season. The recipient of the CHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award, Snelgrove ranks on the school's top 10 all-time lists for points (39), goals (15), and assists (24).

Photo by Mark Hicks/WestSide Photo.

Wayne State men hand out yearly awards

The Wayne State University men's hockey team held its annual awards presentation on Saturday at Historic St. Andrew's on the WSU campus.

Senior defenseman Steve Kovalchik earned team Most Valuable Player honors after leading the squad with 19 assists and being named to the College Hockey America All-League Second Team. He also received the team's Best Defensive Player award.

Freshman forward Derek Punches was selected WSU's Rookie of the Year. He played in 31 contests recording 10 points on five goals and five assists. Among his five lamp-lighters were two power-play goals, a first goal and a game-tying goal.

Junior goaltender Will Hooper earned the President's Award for academic success. He has a 3.91 cumulative grade-point average in accounting during his tenure. Hooper has recorded a 4.00 in two of his three semesters at WSU.

Sophomore forward Derek Bachynski earned the Most Improved Player award after appearing in 32 games and recording 18 points. He had four points (all on goals) as a freshman. Bachynski led all WSU skaters in plus/minus and contributed two power-play goals, a first goal and a game-winner. His seven goals were tied for third on the team, while his 11 assists ranked third on the squad.

Sophomore forward Adam Krug (pictured) earned the Top Gun award after leading the team with 23 points. His seven goals were tied for third on the team, while his 16 assists ranked second on the squad.

Senior goalie Matt Kelly along with senior defenseman Greg Poupard were given the Captain's Award. Kelly made 19 starts as a senior recording 66 percent of WSU's victories. Poupard played in 33 contests equaling career-highs in assists and points.

Poupard was also the recipient of this year's Coaches' Award.

Photo by Mark Hicks/WestSide Photo.