Lakers add trio during spring signing period

Lake Superior State has signed forwards Rick Schofield and Chad Nehring and defenseman Dillin Stonehouse to a National Letter of Intent during the 2007 spring signing period.

Schofield, of Pickering, Ont., is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound center for the Pickering Panthers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. He led the Panthers in scoring with 36-34--70 and was tied for 14th in OPJHL scoring. He was named the South Conference's most-improved player, most-valuable player of the OPJHL All-Star Game and received the Brad Shearer Award -- a leadership award presented by the Panthers' organization. Pickering was 26-21-2 in the OPJHL's South Conference in 2006-07.

Schofield, who is a former teammate of Laker freshman John Scrymgeour, was recruited to replace rookie Matt Martello, who left the team at mid-season.

"He's a lot like Matt," LSSU coach Jim Roque said. "He's a big kid with good skills. He's got some pro potential."

Nehring, of Springside, Sask., was named the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Player of the Month in March. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound center for the Yorkton Terriers was the league's No. 2 scorer during the playoffs with 13-11--24 in 17 games. He was ranked 13th in SJHL scoring during the regular season and finished the year with 38-47--85. Yorkton was 26-22-4 in the SJHL's Sherwood Conference during the regular season.

Roque described Nehring as a good two-way player.

"He's a thick kid and strong," Roque said. "He's played in a couple championships, including the Canadian championships against (Laker freshman) Ryan Baird a couple years ago."

Stonehouse, of Elkhorn, Man., was named most-valuable defenseman for the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL. The 6-foot, 180-pounder totaled 12-36--48 in 58 regular-season games to finish second in league scoring among defensemen. He added 3-4--7 in 10 playoff games. Melfort was 37-18-1 in the SJHL's Itech Conference.

Roque compared Stonehouse to Laker freshman Steven Kaunisto.

"He's a really good puck handler and skater," he said. "He's smart and will be good on the power play. He's very mobile and can pass the puck. He's also a 4.0 student."

Three fall signees also completed their junior seasons with impressive totals. Tyson Hobbins, a Nipawin Hawks right wing, finished his regular season with 23-38--6 1 in 47 games. He was 11th in the SJHL in scoring during the regular season and totaled 5-9--14 in 18 playoff games. Ohio Blue Jackets right wing Zac MacVoy totaled 13-13--26 in 47 games, while Stouffville Spirit left wing Will Acton finished with 16-13--29 in 33 games.

"Right now I only have 22 skaters, and I like that," Roque said. "All of the freshmen will probably be major contributors - a lot like the freshmen this year."

Wayne State recruit chasing top NAHL prize

By Brian McDonough

It's an exhilarating feeling winning a national championship trophy. When that trophy is named after a family member, however, it brings on a whole new level of euphoria.

That's the unique opportunity facing Travis Hamway this week as he and the Fairbanks Ice Dogs battle for the NAHL's Robertson Cup, which is named after Hamway's grandfather, Chuck Robertson.

The Robertson Cup crowns the NAHL's playoff champion, which also represents USA Hockey's Tier II Junior A national champion.

"It's definitely special," said Hamway. "I couldn't end my junior career any better winning my grandpa's Cup."

A pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan, Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pools Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976-83.

It wasn't until the beginning of this year when the West Bloomfield native Hamway, now in his second season in the NAHL after spending last year with the Billings Bulls and starting this year with the Traverse City North Stars, knew he was chasing a trophy with roots so close to home. He started to ask questions after reading a story about the Robertson Cup on the Texas Tornado's Web site.

"I finally put two and two together thinking, 'Hey, this could be my grandpa,'" said Hamway, a Wayne State University recruit. "I called my mom (Robertson's daughter) and found out that way."

A regular supporter of local youth hockey, Robertson was never short on generosity towards his grandson's teams, among others.

"He's a great guy, always a really giving guy," said Hamway. "You could go to him and ask him for anything. I'd always go and ask him to sponsor our travel teams when I was young to get some new equipment and stuff."

Roberston, 69, who won't be able to make the trip to Fairbanks because of health reasons (he suffers from a genetic muscle disease similar to Lou Gehrig's Disease) will still bring a little boost to the Ice Dogs' locker room as they chase this year's NAHL title.

"All my teammates know," said Hamway. "It's definitely extra motivation for me and hopefully it motivates the team a little bit, too."

The Robertson Cup Championship has been the talk of Fairbanks the past few weeks, but the fan support at Big Dipper Arena has been the talk of the league for quite a few years. The Ice Dogs averaged 1,877 in attendance this season (second only to Texas in the entire NAHL) and Hamway expects the Fairbanks faithful to be a factor.

"It's going to be pretty crazy in our building," he said. "We've been promoting it like crazy and we're expecting a ton of fans. It's a great hockey town, people love it here."

The four-day tournament, which begins Thursday, will also feature the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, Southern Minnesota Express and the St. Louis Bandits.

"I think teams hate to play here and I think that's going to give us a little advantage," Hamway added.

And even though he'll be thousands of miles away back home in Michigan, Robertson can't help but be at the center of all the excitement.

"I talked to him a couple days about it, he's pretty fired up," said Hamway.

Perlini chooses Spartans over OHL's Hounds

BY RANDY RUSSON, RR Media Service

Brett Perlini has chosen the Michigan State Spartans over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, according to SaultThisWeek.com.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound centre has accepted a four-year, full-ride scholarship to attend Michigan State beginning in the fall of 2008. He had been a third-round pick of the Greyhounds at the 2006 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection (pictured above) from the AAA midget Soo North Stars.

Perlini spent the 2006-07 season with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and scored 38 goals in 46 games. The 38 goals tied him for the league lead.

A 1990 birth year, Perlini said it was tough choosing Michigan State over the Greyhounds "because my parents (Fred Jr. and Vicki) both grew up here...I was born here. But the fact that I can play hockey and get an education at the same time was too much to turn down."

Michigan State, deep in U.S. college hockey history, is fresh from the 2007 national championship.

Perlini's father, Fred Jr., speaking from England, where he and his wife reside, echoed what his son said about choosing Michigan State.

"It's an elite school, it's got an elite hockey program. We said all along that education was a top priority for us."

Finlandia men and women on all-academic teams

Six players from the Finlandia University women's hockey team have received all-academic honors from the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.

Named to the 2007 All-NCHA Academic Team are senior defenseman Bree Cote, junior goalie Corinne Czekaj, senior forward Catherine Fisher, junior defenseman Samantha Fisher, junior defenseman Ashley Leitch and senior forward Jana Riutta.

Of the 13 student-athletes named to the all-academic team, the Lions led the way with six.

Players named to the all-academic team have a cumulative 3.00 or higher grade-point average, have completed at least 50 semester or 75 quarter hours, and are recommended by their head coach.

“This is great example of the work ethic our team has, both on and off the ice. They have wonderful discipline and the maturity to be positive examples for their teammates,” said Chris Salani, Finlandia athletic director and head women's hockey coach.

The men's MCHA All-Academic Team members:

Lukas Alberer, Jr.

Robert DeVaun, So.

CJ Fisher, Jr.

Travis Hanson, Jr.

Joe Junttila, Sr.

Kevin Korte, So.

Matt Lindgren, Jr.

Marc Marcotte, So.

Blake Miller, So.

Josh Paquette, Jr.

Mike Parks, Jr.

Ryan Sullivan, So.

Ferris, NMU recruits among NAHL's best

The North American Hockey League announced Wednesday its individual awards winners for the 2006-07 season, as voted on by the league’s coaches, and three winners are bound for Michigan colleges.

St. Louis Bandits forward Pat Maroon was named the NAHL/Sherwood Most Valuable Player. The 19-year-old led the NAHL in scoring this season with 40 goals and 95 points. Maroon, a Ferris State University recruit, is also on the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings for 2007 draft-eligibles. Maroon was also named to the All-NAHL First Team.

Bandits goaltender Pat Nagle was voted the NAHL Rookie of the Year. In 24 appearances, the 19-year-old Ferris State recruit from Bloomfield fashioned a 24-8-4 record to compliment a 2.28 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Nagle was named to the All-NAHL Second Team.

The Academic Achievement Award was presented to Traverse City North Stars forward Kory Kaunisto. Holding a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Kaunisto, a Marquette native, is in the top one percent of his class at Traverse City Central High School. With a full scholarship to Northern Michigan University in hand, Kaunisto is also a longstanding member of the National Honor Society.

St. Louis defenseman Scooter Vaughan was also named to the Second Team and All-Rookie Team. He'll be heading to Michigan this fall.

Cogliano leaves Wolverines for NHL's Oilers

Michigan sophomore center Andrew Cogliano agreed to a contract with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers today. Cogliano was a first-round draft pick (25th overall) of the Oilers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

During his two seasons at Michigan, Cogliano scored 36 goals and added 42 asssists for 78 points in 77 games. He had nine power-play goals, three shorthanded markers and five game-winners. He accumulated 50 penalty minutes and had a -4 plus/minus rating.

Cogliano had a breakout sophomore season with a 24-26-50 line in 38 games to finish tied for first on the team in goals and third on the Maize and Blue in points. His 50 points were tied for eighth-best in the nation, and his 24 goals were tied for seventh-best in the country. From Nov. 4 through Feb. 18, he posted points in 22 out of 24 games (17-17-34), including a career-best 12-game point streak. Cogliano earned All-CCHA honorable mention.

He was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team in 2005-06, when he had a 12-16-28 line in his freshman season.

Internationally, Cogliano won back-to-back gold medals with Team Canada at the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Junior Championships. He had a goal and two assists in six games at the 2007 tournament and a goal and four assists in six games in 2006.

Edmonton Oilers Release

Western Michigan adds Isley for 2007-2008

The Western Michigan Broncos will welcome yet another player from the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the fall of 2008.

Lucas Isley signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Western Michigan and play for the Broncos after he completes his third season of play in the AJHL.

"Lucas Isley is a skilled player who will join our program with the ability to play in all situations," said WMU assistant coach Chris Brooks. "He is an intelligent player who plays a lot bigger than his size. When arriving in the fall of 2008, Lucas will have played three years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and will be counted on to make a significant impact on our team."

Isley, who turned 18 on April 25, is deferring enrollment until the fall of 2008. He is a right winger who currently stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs approximately 160 pounds.

The Bonnyville, Alberta native played in 31 games for the Bonnyville Pontiacs this past season, scoring 12 goals and making 17 assists for 29 points on the year. Isley netted a pair of goals and helped out on two more for four points during the Pontiacs' playoff run.

Western Michigan has had recent luck with student-athletes who come from the AJHL. Dana Lattery led the AJHL in scoring prior to joining WMU and then scored 65 goals and had 55 assists in 140 games from 2000-04. Right winger Jeremy Cheyne played in 87 games for Western Michigan, netting 23 goals from 2001-04 after he led the AJHL in scoring. Mat Ponto played in 100 games as a defenseman for the Brown & Gold from 2001-05 after serving as captain on his AJHL Royal Bank Cup Championship team.

Most recently, CCHA Rookie of the Year Mark Letestu, who led the nation in rookie scoring and then signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, came to WMU by way of the AJHL. The Elk Point, Alberta native also led the AJHL in scoring and also a member of the Bonnyville Pontiacs.

NMU assistant Olver leaving for pro job

John Olver has resigned as an assistant coach with the Northern Michigan University hockey team. He has accepted a position with the Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League.

"I am sorry to see John go. He has been a big part of the NMU hockey program for the past two years," Walt Kyle, NMU head hockey coach, said. "He has been a very good friend of mine for 30 years. We wish him all the best. He will still be active with NMU hockey as a parent. The Olver family will still be a big part of NMU hockey."

He just concluded his second season with the Wildcats. Before his arrival in Marquette, Olver was the vice president of hockey operations and head coach of the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League for five years (2000-05).

Olver’s son, Darin, recently completed his NMU hockey career while his other son, Mark, is expected to skate for the Wildcats next season.

Bulldogs name '06-07 award winners

Senior center-left wing Mark Bomersback was selected as the 2006-07 Ferris State University's Most Valuable Player at the program's annual post-season awards banquet held April 14 at the Falcon Head Golf Club in Big Rapids. The banquet was sponsored by the FSU Blue Line Club.

Bomersback (pictured right) registered a team fifth-place 16 points with nine goals and seven assists in 20 contests this season despite being sidelined 19 outings after suffering an injury in the Bulldogs' season opener versus Union (Oct. 6). The assistant captain also totaled four multiple-point games, which included a team-high tying two multi-goal contests, to go along with a plus one efficiency rating. Bomersback concluded his four-year Ferris career with 89 points on 40 goals and 49 assists in 136 outings. The 5-10, 191-pound forward ranks 36th in career points, tied for 32nd in assists, and is tied for 44th in assists among Ferris State's all-time leaders.

The Lloyd Earl Trophy as the team's leading scorer was presented to senior right wing Zac Pearson, who compiled a career-high 30 points with nine goals and 21 assists in 37 games this campaign. Pearson notched at least a point in 19 of those encounters and paced the Bulldogs with eight multi-point contests.

Junior defenseman Adam Welch and freshman defenseman Matt Case were co-winners of the Blue Line Competitive Award. Welch, who was a co-recipient of the award in 2005-06, generated eight points with two goals and six assists in 39 games. The two-time (2005-06 and 2006-07) team captain notched two assists in the 2006-07 season finale at Lake Superior State (March 4) for his lone multiple-point outing. Case finished tied for fourth place among FSU's top-scoring defensemen with 10 points on four goals and six assists in 29 appearances. His four multi-point game outings tied for fifth highest on the squad while his two game-winning lamplighters tied for top team honors. Case was recognized as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Rookie of the Week this season (Feb. 5).

Freshman center Cody Chupp received the Rookie of the Year Award following his 23 points this campaign which was tops among all Bulldog rookies and the third-highest points totals on the team. Chupp racked up eight goals and had 15 assists while posting a plus five efficiency rating in 37 games. He led Ferris in three-point games (three) and shared top team honors in game-winning goals (two). Chupp generated five multiple-point games to tie for second best while his 11 first assists represented the second most among the squad's leaders. He garnered at least one point in 15 encounters.

Sophomore defenseman Evan Case picked up two awards -- the Steve Banonis Most Improved Player Award and the Plus/Minus Award. Case posted four points with one goal and three helpers in 28 appearances this season after being unable to record a point in four 2005-06 contests. Case, who earned a point in four seperate outings this season, turned in a team-best plus-12 efficiency rating.

For the third consecutive season, senior left wing Eric Vesely received the Scholar-Athlete Award for his performance both in the classroom and on the ice. A surveying engineering major, Vesely was tabbed as Ferris' 2006-07 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was a nominee for the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Vesely is a three-time (2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07) recipient of the FSU President's Award for having the team's highest grade point average. Vesely netted 10 points with eight goals and two assists in 39 outings this season and tallied two multiple-point games. The forward wrapped up his career with 35 points on 21 goals and 14 helpers in 122 contests.

Rachel Schumann was honored with the FSU Blue Line Club Recognition Award for her contributions to the Bulldog hockey program. Schumann completed her 26th year this season as Ferris State hockey's national anthem singer.