Mitera named Michigan's new captain

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The University of Michigan announced Friday that senior defenseman Mark Mitera will be the captain for the 2008-2009 season.

Mitera was an alternate captain for the Wolverines for the second half of the 2007-2008 season.

As U-M's top defenseman and its only upperclassman on the blue line, he averaged a team-high 24 minutes of ice time per game. The junior had his best statistical season by scoring two goals and contributing 21 assists to lead U-M defensemen with 23 points. He also led the defense corps in plus/minus (+30) and blocked shots (65) and racked up 60 penalty minutes.

The coaches of the CCHA voted Mitera to the All-CCHA Second Team and Inside College Hockey named him its Defenseman of the Year for 2007-2008.

Mitera was a first-round draft pick (19th overall) of the Anaheim Ducks in 2006.

The 6-foot-3, 213-pounder skated for the 2006 U.S. World Junior Championship squad. Prior to attending U-M, he played for the U.S. National Team Development Program (2003-2005).

The Wolverines graduate three players, each a forward, from their 2007-2008 roster - captain Kevin Porter, alternate captain Chad Kolarik and Chris Fragner. A total of 22 players from the 2007-2008 roster have remaining eligibility for the 2008-2009 season.

The alternate captains will be named in the fall.

Photo courtesy UM Photo Services

WMU signs four more recruits

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Western Michigan has signed four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the spring signing period.

JJ Crew (Placentia, Calif./Lincoln Stars-USHL) will be joining the Broncos for the 2008-09 season, while Kevin Connauton (Edmonton, Alberta/Spruce Grove Saints-AJHL), Brett Beebe (Redondo Beach, Calif./Waterloo Blackhawks-USHL) and Jordan Gidaro (Brampton, Ontario/Burlington Cougars-OPJHL) will defer their enrollment until the 2009-10 season.

The four join Greg Squires, Ian Slater, Lucas Isley, Jesse Perrin and Luke Witkowski from the November signing period.

Crew, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound forward, helped the Stars to a third-place finish in the West Division of the USHL. During his first season in the USHL, he scored six goals and added 14 assists in 59 games. The previous season he played with the Colorado Rampage AAA Major Midget team, scoring 30 goals and 38 assists in just 25 games.

Connauton, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman, scored 18 goals and added 32 assists in 71 games during his first season with Spruce Grove. He was the top-scoring rookie defensman in the AJHL and the third-leading scoring defenseman in the league. His strong season led to a Rookie of the Year nomination and he was a unanimous selection to the AJHL North All-Rookie Team.

Beebe played on the 2006 U.S. Select Under 17 team that participated in the Three Nations Cup and was tied for third in scoring during the tournament. A 6-foot, 180-pound forward, he scored five goals and four assists in 34 games during his first season in the USHL. The previous season he played for the Anaheim Junior Ducks AAA Major Midget team and scored 30 goals and 53 assists in 60 games.

Gidaro scored 21 goals and 29 assists in 39 games during his first season in the OPJHL. The previous season he scored 37 goals and 18 assists in 33 games for King Wild of the Greater Metro Hockey League and received the Luke Reynolds Award for the GMHL’s best forward.

Squires, Slater, Isley, Perrin and Crew will join the Broncos in 2008-2009, leaving Witkowski, Connauton, Beebe and Gidaro to skate with the Brown & Gold during the 2009-2010 season.

Wildcats dole out the hardware

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Northern Michigan presented its team awards at the annual banquet on Wednesday night. Erik Gustafsson and Mark Olver walked away with two awards each after both were selected to the CCHA All-Rookie Team for the 2007-08 season.

Olver went home with the Don Waddell Best Freshman and Bill Joyce Best Forward Awards. He led the Wildcats in goals (21) and points (38) for the 2007-08 season.

Gustafsson received the Steve Bozek Plus-Minus and Tom Laidlaw Best Defenseman Awards. He recorded a team-high +16 in overall games and +17 in conference action. Gustafsson ended the 2007-08 season with 27 points all from assists.

The Dennis Sibilsky Memorial Senior Award was given to Matt Siddall. The award is given by the coaching staff to the player who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership and ability on the ice and in the classroom. Siddall tied for second on the team with 36 points (18-18).

Brian Stewart was given the Gary Emmons Most Valuable Player Award. He appeared in 35 games during the 2007-08 season. Stewart was 15-15-4 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .918 save-percentage.

Billy Smith and Derek May shared the Brad Werenka Coaches Academic Award. The award is given by the coaching staff to a player who performed best in the classroom during the season. Smith ended the season with 15 points (4-11) while May had three points (0-3).

The Ed Ward Most Improved Players Award went to Matt Butcher. He ended the 2007-08 campaign with 23 points on eight goals and 15 assists.

Al Dorich walked away with the Dallas Drake Defensive Player of the Year Award. He ended up with seven points all on assists for the 2007-08 season.

Blake Cosgrove received the Jim Mussatto Memorial Fitness Award. To receive this award a player who holds the highest combined ranking in the following categories: three mile run, bench press, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats and lowest body fat. On the ice for the 2007-08 season, Cosgrove had seven points all on assists.

The Clara Pantalone Memorial Community Service Awards is given by the coaching staff to the player who contributed the most to the community, in terms of working with children and people, during the course of the season. This year’s recipient was Andrew Sarauer. He assisted with the Special Olympics, an instructor at the CCHA Hockey Is Fun Clinic and was a volunteer reader to first graders at Cherry Creek School. On the ice, Sarauer had three goals, six assists for nine points.

Tim Hartung walked away with the Steve Weeks Unsung Hero Award. He tallied three goals, five assists for eight points for the 2007-08 season.

Adrian honored by Michigan Senate

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Adrian College men's team has received many awards and honors this season, but perhaps none were bigger than today's latest acknowledgement by the state of Michigan.

The state of Michigan presented head coach Ron Fogarty and the team a formal proclamation honoring the team in the state senate chamber in Lansing this morning. Senator Cameron Brown representing the 16th District, including Lenawee County, spoke about the achievements of the first-year program and went on to say that the team has made the area proud both on and off the ice.

"This is an unbelieveable experience," said Fogarty. "I could not have imagined this back in October when our season began. I've been told by several people this morning that this type of thing does not happen very often and especially in the Division III ranks."

Coach Fogarty and team captain Adam Krug addressed the senate upon receiving the certificate from senator Brown. Both spoke of the pride they had in receiving such a prestigious honor.

"Growing up in Livonia this is a big deal for me," said Krug. "It has been a very successful year for the team and I'm glad we get to step on the ice next year together and finish our goals."

Joining Fogarty and Krug on the floor were assistant coach Matt Nicholson and alternate team captains Jeremy Klaver, Mike Towns and Quinn Waller.

Warriors hand out awards Wednesday

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Wayne State University men's team held its last annual awards presentation today at Z's Villa in Detroit.

Senior forward Stavros Paskaris was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. Named to the All-College Hockey America First Team and the CHA All-Academic Team, Paskaris led the team in points (39, second-most in school history) and goals (14) while finishing second in assists (25, tied for second-most in school history) after playing in all 38 games. He totaled 27 points in league play, a school record, and set a new WSU mark with a nine-game point streak Feb. 8 against Robert Morris to Mar. 14 versus Alabama-Huntsville.

Paskaris, who was also given the Top Gun award as the Warriors' leading scorer this past season, finished his career tied-for-third all-time in points (98), fifth in goals (35), and third in assists (63). He is WSU's all-time leader in CHA points (64) and assists (41).

The award for Best Defenseman went to sophomore assistant captain Jeff Caister. Caister, who saw action in all 38 games, was named to the All-CHA First Team and the CHA All-Academic Team. He ranked second on the squad with 31 points, the most by a defenseman in school history, and led the team with 28 assists, the highest overall total in WSU history. He also topped all CHA blueliners in points and finished in a tie for fourth nationally among defensemen with an average of 0.82 points per game.

Defenseman Ryan Adams was named Wayne State's Rookie of the Year. A CHA All-Rookie Team selection, Adams played in 32 games and finished third among WSU freshmen with seven points. He also posted a positive plus/minus rating in 20 games.

Freshman forward Chris Kushneriuk was named WSU's Most Improved Player. He played in 37 games and scored three goals, including the Warriors' lone tally in the CHA semifinal loss to Bemidji State. He also netted the game-winning goal - his first collegiate point - with 50 seconds remaining in overtime Jan. 26 against UAH, warranting CHA Rookie of the Week accolades.

For the second year in a row, junior forward Derek Punches (pictured) was given the Coach's Award. Punches served as an assistant captain, but also donned the "C" when captain Mike Forgie was out with an injury. A two-time CHA All-Academic Team honoree, Punches played in all 38 games and finished second on the team in goals (10), fifth in points (19), and sixth in assists (9). He established career-highs in all three categories as well as in power-play goals (5). Punches was also presented with the President's Award for having the highest grade-point average on the team.

For their contributions as leaders of the Wayne State men's hockey team, Punches and Forgie were given Captain's Awards. A two-year team captain, Forgie collected 17 points in 30 games this past season. He finished sixth on the team in points and fourth in goals (9), achieving career-highs in both, and became the first WSU men's hockey player ever selected to participate in the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge, held last weekend in Denver.

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks/WestSide Photo

Eight Spartans honored at banquet

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Junior goaltender Jeff Lerg was named the team’s Most Valuable Player for the second straight season while classmate Justin Abdelkader and freshman Jeff Petry were the night’s two-award winners as the Michigan State hockey team held its season-ending banquet on Tuesday evening at the Kellogg Center.

Five other Spartans earned honors on the evening, with most awards presented selected by a team vote.

In addition, former hockey coach and athletics director Ron Mason was honored as the program’s Distinguished Alumnus.

Putting together one of the most decorated campaigns in school history, Lerg (pictured) was a Hobey Baker finalist, a Second-Team All-America selection, the CCHA First-Team goaltender and the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was a finalist for the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete, as well as a finalist for CCHA Player of the Year honors. Lerg finished the season ninth in the country in save percentage (.926), which is tied for sixth-best all-time in the MSU annals, and a 2.22 goals-against average, which ranked 18th nationally and ninth-best in the Spartan record book. His 24 victories were the fourth-highest total in the country this season and puts him tied for eighth in the MSU records. He set his career-best in shutouts (four, eighth all-time at MSU) and saves (1,136, which ranks third in the MSU annals). Lerg’s career numbers also rank among the top five all-time at Michigan State in several categories: save percentage (.922), second; saves (2,956), second; goals-against average (2.22), third; career shutouts (10), fourth; wins (67), fifth; games played (114), fourth; and consecutive games played (63), first.

Abdelkader captured both the Spartan Fitness Award as well as the Amo Bessone Award, which honors athletic, scholastic, and community participation. The junior, who recently signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings and made his NHL debut on April 3, ranked second on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points (all career highs), was named the CCHA’s Top Defensive Forward and was named to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team. A 3.2 student as a Supply-Chain Management major in the College of Business at MSU, Abdelkader also captured the Mike and Marion Ilitch Humanitarian Award at the CCHA Awards Show and MSU’s Gwendolyn Norrell Community Service and Leadership Award at its Academic Gala on April 14. Abdelkader, who was not in attendance due to Detroit road games in Nashville, asked Bryan Lerg to accept the Fitness Award on his behalf, and “Shoot for a Cure” co-creator Daniel Sturges accepted the Bessone.

Petry was named the Dr. John Downs Outstanding Defensive Player as well as the team’s Outstanding Rookie. Petry, a 20-year old freshman, developed into one of MSU’s top blueliners by season’s end, and contributed 24 points (three goals, 21 assists). He ranked third on the team in assists and second among MSU rearguards in points. He was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team, Inside College Hockey’s national All-Freshman team, and was one of three finalists for CCHA Rookie of the Year honors. He was also an NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team selection.

Bryan Lerg was named the team’s Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award winner. Lerg, the team captain, had a career-best 39 points, on 20 goals (10 on the power play) and 19 assists. He ranked third on the team in scoring, and was a two-time CCHA Player of the Week selection. Lerg signed a professional contract with the Edmonton Oilers on March 31, and played in four games for the Oilers’ AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons this spring.

Outstanding Offensive Player honors went to junior Tim Kennedy. Kennedy led the Spartans in scoring, tying his career best with 43 points in 42 games (20g, 23 a). He led the team in all offensive categories, scored nine times on the power play, and tallied five game-winning tallies on the season. At season’s end, he was named a Second-Team All-CCHA selection.

The Blue Line President’s Award, given to the top scholar-athlete in the senior class, was given to defenseman Jeff Dunne, a crop and soil science major, who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.771. Earlier this season, Dunne was awarded a Charles E. and Frances M. Osterman Scholarship from the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and was also honored at the MSU Academic Gala as the team’s scholar-athlete. A stay-at-home defenseman, Dunne had a 3-4--7 scoring line this season, with all three of his goals coming on the power play.

Most Improved Player honors went to sophomore defenseman Justin Johnston. Johnston, who appeared in three games last year as a freshman, earned significantly more playing time on the MSU blueline this season. He appeared in 24 of MSU’s final 27 games this season and compiled two assists.

Zak McClellan pulled off an unprecedented feat and was awarded the team’s Goofus Award for the fourth consecutive season. McClellan, a senior forward, was presented his award by volunteer assistant coach Rob Woodward, himself a three-time Goofus winner (1991-93). McClellan has been a solid, steady player for the Spartans in addition to gaining notoriety among the fan base as the host of “In the Box with Zak McClellan” on MSUSpartans.com. Most recently, he headlined the wildly popular “Zak and the Macs” lip-sync music videos that appeared on gamenights on the Munn Arena video boards. Woodward and Chris Bogas, who won the award from 1997-99, had been the program’s only three-time winners of the award.

Photo courtesy Michigan State Athletics

Berenson wins Spencer Penrose Award

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

For his efforts in leading the Wolverines of the University of Michigan to both the CCHA regular season and tournament titles, Gordon "Red" Berenson has been chosen winner of the 2008 Spencer Penrose Award as Division I Men's Coach of the Year.

Michigan went 33-6-4, ending the regular season ranked as the No. 1 team in the country. Making the accomplishment even more impressive was the fact that Michigan regularly skated as many as 10 freshmen in a game.

Berenson is the eighth CCHA coach to capture the Spenrose Penrose Award and the third in a row from the conference after Jeff Jackson of Notre Dame was honored last year and Enrico Blasi of Miami in 2006.

The Wolverines won the NCAA East Regional with victories over Niagara (5-1) and Clarkson (2-0) to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four in Denver. There, the season ended with a tough 5-4 overtime loss to Notre Dame in the semifinals. Still, the trip to the Rocky Mountains was not without success as Michigan's Kevin Porter was presented the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's best player.

This is the first national Coach of the Year award for Berenson who has compiled a career mark of 644-298-68 in 24 seasons at Michigan. His 644 wins rank him eighth all-time among all NCAA coaches.

The 2007-08 edition of the Wolverines qualified for the NCAA Tournament for a record 18th consecutive year. The CCHA regular season and tournament titles were the 10th and 8th, respectively for Berenson.

A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Berenson was a two-time All-American and a captain at Michigan, graduating in 1962. He followed his college exploits with a 17-year NHL career in which he scored 261 goals and had 397 assists, playing 987 games for Montreal, New York, Detroit, and St. Louis. He once scored six goals in a single game against Philadelphia, four of the goals coming in a nine-minute span.

Before starting his college coaching career at Michigan in 1984, Berenson coached briefly in the NHL, earning Coach of the Year honors with St. Louis in 1981. His contributions to the game were recognized most notably when USA Hockey and the National Hockey League presented him the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2006.

The runners-up for this year's AHCA Men's Division I Coach of the Year award were Guy Gadowsky of Princeton University and Jerry York of Boston College.

The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first ten NCAA championship hockey tournaments. It will be pre¬sented at the AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet in Naples, Fla., on Saturday evening, April 26.

Michigan Tech signs four new recruits

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Michigan Tech signed four players to a National Letter of Intent yesterday.

A pair of goaltenders, Corson Cramer and Josh Robinson, will join the team for the 2008-2009 season and defensemen Tommy Brown and Steven Seigo will join the team in 2009-10.

Cramer (6-foot, 175 pounds) posted a 10-13-3 record in 27 regular-season games for the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets of the United States Hockey League. The Colorado Springs native also posted a 3.59 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage. He finished the previous season with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage for the Junior Blue Jackets.

Robinson (6-foot, 180 pounds) posted a 22-17-2 record in 43 regular-season games for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. The Frankenmuth native finished with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in the regular season. Robinson helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge and also represented the West Division at the 2008 USHL Prospects/All-Star Game. In 2006-2007, Robinson recorded a 3.41 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage for the Musketeers.

“Corson and Josh will be great additions to the team," said MTU assistant coach Chris Tok. "They both spent the past two seasons playing in the very competitive USHL. The pair will give us great depth at the goaltending position.”

Brown, a native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, has tallied 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 50 games for the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The left-handed defender (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) helped Team Canada West to the gold medal at the 2007 World Junior A Challenge and was named to the SJHL All-Rookie Team.

Seigo, a 6-foot, 180-pound defender, has tallied 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 58 games for the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He assisted on the game-winning goal to lift Team Canada West to the gold medal of the 2007 World Junior A Challenge. Last season, the Edenwold, Saskatchewan native recorded 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 56 games for the Pontiacs.

“Tommy and Steven have proven they can excel while playing junior hockey in Western Canada,” said Huskies assistant coach Pat Mikesch. “One more year will allow them to physically mature and play in the WCHA starting the fall of 2009.”

“We are excited about this class, both for the qualities they are bringing on and off the ice,” said Tech head coach Jamie Russell. “Our recruiting classes are getting better and better each year.”

Joining Cramer and Robinson as members of the 2008-2009 recruiting class are Seth Soley (Omaha Lancers), Brett Olson (Waterloo Black Hawks), Ricky Doriott (North Iowa Outlaws), Bryce Reddick (Cowichan Valley Capitals) and Alex MacLeod (Camrose Kodiaks).

Brown and Seigo are part of the 2009-2010 class that also includes Evan Witt (Alberni Valley Bulldogs), Jacob Johnstone (Green Bay Gamblers), Anthony Schooley (Tri-City Storm) and Jake Hauswirth (Omaha Lancers).

WMU honors '07-08 award winners

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Western Michigan honored its senior class and handed out its postseason awards at its annual banquet held at the Fetzer Center on Sunday afternoon.

Junior forward Patrick Galivan took home the Rob Hodge Most Valuable Player award. A native of Oak Park, Ill., Galivan led the Broncos in scoring with eight goals and 23 assists. The 2007-08 season was a career year across the board for Galivan. He played in a career-high 38 games and his goals and assists totals both set new career highs. Galivan also received the Vic Vanderberg Leading Scorer award.

Senior Nathan Ansell was named the Neil Smith Most Valuable Defenseman. Ansell led the team with 45 blocked shots and his six goals, a career-high, were tops among defensemen on the team. The Sarnia, Ontario native also finished with seven assists and his 13 points tied a career high that he set back during the 2005-06 season.

Jerry Kuhn received the Suzanne Klop Rookie of the Year award. Kuhn started 11 games in net and made 13 total appearances. The freshman from Southgate finished the season with a 2-9-1 record and sported a 2.75 goals-against average and a .916 save-percentage.

Freshman Patrick Nagorsen took home the Ed Edwards Most Improved Player award. His offensive and defensive play improved during the season and culminated in the scoring of his first goal against then-No. 11 Notre Dame. Nagorsen beat a Notre Dame defender to a loose puck, making a quick move to free the puck from the falling defender. He skated in and scored a breakaway-shorthanded goal for the first of his career.

Sophomore Cam Watson was awarded with the Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association Grinder award. Watson had a career year, leading the team with 10 goals, playing in 38 games and contributing six assists on the season.

Tyler Ludwig received the Bill Saunders Plus/Minus award for finishing with a plus/minus of zero on the season. Ludwig, a sophomore, also led all defensemen with 15 points, coming on four goals and 11 assists.

Junior Dave Krisky took home two awards during the banquet. Krisky received the Catherine Lawson Sportsmanship award and also received the Peter Eillis Academic Achievement Award. He sports a 3.95 grade-point average in finance and played in 26 games during the season, scoring one goal and adding seven assists.

The senior class (pictured) of Ansell, Brian Bicek, Mike Lesperance, Jeff Pierce and Jonathan Lupa got a chance to share memories of their Bronco careers while being honored by the team and coaching staff.

Photo courtesy GS Photo

Coyotes sign Hobey winner Porter

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Phoenix Coyotes announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Kevin Porter, winner of the 2008 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, to an entry-level contract.

As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. Earlier today, Phoenix signed Porter's teammate, Chad Kolarik to an entry-level deal as well.

Porter, 22, recently completed his senior year at the University of Michigan and finished the season ranked second in Division I scoring with 33 goals and 30 assists for 63 points in 43 games. The Wolverines' captain finished his collegiate career with 85-98-183 and 115 penalty minutes in 162 games.

Porter, who was selected by the Coyotes in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft, will join the Coyotes’ American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, as they begin their first round Calder Cup Playoff series against the Toronto Marlies.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward was named the CCHA Player of the Year and was a finalist for the league's Best Defensive Forward award. The Northville native was also a member of the RBK West All-American First Team and All-CCHA First Team and was named the Hockey Commissioners January National Player of the Month.

During the East Regional of this year’s NCAA Tournament, Porter scored an NCAA-record four goals in the Wolverines' 5-1 win against Niagara in the semifinal. He then added a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Clarkson as Michigan advanced to the Frozen Four for the 23rd time in school history.

Porter was named to the 2007 CCHA Second Team following his junior season. He also captained Team USA at the 2006 World Junior Championship and represented the United States at the 2005 World Junior Championship. In addition, Porter played for Team USA at the 2003 and 2004 Under-18 World Championship.

Photo courtesy UM Photo Services

Kolarik also signs with Phoenix

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Phoenix Coyotes announced Sunday that the Coyotes have signed forward Chad Kolarik to an entry-level contract.

As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Kolarik, 22, recently completed his senior season at the University of Michigan where he helped lead the Wolverines to their 23rd Frozen Four appearance in school history.

Kolarik finished the season ranked second on the team in scoring with 30-26-56. He also ranked third in the nation in points and fourth in goals.

A native of Abington, Pa., Kolarik was named to the CCHA First Team and was an RBK West Second Team All-American.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Kolarik appeared in 163 career games for Michigan, collecting 78 goals and 96 assists for 174 points and 131 penalty minutes.

Kolarik will now join the San Antonio Rampage, the AHL affiliate of the Coyotes, for their Calder Cup playoff run.

Photo courtesy UM Photo Services

Shawhan almost went to NMU

By Randy Russon
OspreyBlogs.com

If Joe Shawhan would have known a year ago what he knows now he would likely be comfortably employed as an assistant coach with the Northern Michigan University Wildcats of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Instead, as was first reported in this space in the April 9 edition of this paper, the affable Shawhan is looking for employment after being told that he won't be returning to the Lake Superior State University Lakers as an assistant coach after his contract expires on June 30.

Shawhan just completed his third season as a Laker assistant under head coach Jim Roque. But in what ranks as a surprising move, Roque recently informed Shawhan that he doesn't want him back for the '08-09 season.

Curiously, when Roque first hired Shawhan to a one-year contract three years ago, he made no secret of the fact that he got the man he wanted. Shawhan had been set to accept a position as coach and general manager of the Cleveland Barons of the North American Hockey League when Roque tracked him down and offered him an assistant's position with the Lakers.

For Shawhan, the offer from Roque was an opportunity to remain in his hometown, where he'd been successfully coaching and managing the NAHL's Soo Kewadin Casino Indians for 10 years before the franchise folded.

At any rate, after turning down Cleveland to take the LSSU job three years ago, Shawhan then passed on an opportunity to leave his alma mater a year ago, signing another one-year contract to remain as an assistant under Roque. Shawhan was actively recruited by Northern Michigan head coach Walt Kyle a year ago to join his coaching staff but turned down the opportunity when Roque asked him to stay on at LSSU for a third one-year contract.

In hindsight, Shawhan today must be asking himself why he bothered remaining true to his school after being told by Roque that he wouldn't be returning to LSSU for a fourth season.

A Michigan Soo native, Shawhan has a long history with the school. He was a standout goalie in the CCHA while playing for the Lakers from 1982-87. And from 1988-95, he served a variety of roles with the Lakers, from radio analyst to volunteer coach.

Meantime, from his Northern Michigan University office in Marquette, Kyle, a former National Hockey League coach with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, said he feels bad for Shawhan.

"When we had an opening for an assistant coach a year ago, I recruited Joe heavily to apply for the job," said Kyle. "He was my target, absolutely. I wanted him in the worst way. I was very aware of Joe's coaching qualifications and his academic background. I had done my homework on him."

But Kyle said the opportunity to formally bring Shawhan aboard in Northern Michigan "never got that far. Joe told me after talking it over with Jim Roque that he wanted to stay at LSSU. He'd been a Laker and he wanted to remain a Laker."

"Joe had always impressed me with his integrity in the manner in which he operates," Kyle continued. "After he declined the opportunity to join our coaching staff here at Northern Michigan, he impressed me even more with his loyalty to the Laker program. Personally, I think it's just terrible that Joe has now been let go by Jim after all the loyalty that Joe showed Jim and the Lakers. If Jim didn't want Joe, he had the perfect opportunity to let him go last season when we were interested in him."

Meantime, Roque, when asked why he chose not to renew Shawhan's contract, deferred the matter to a press release sent out by LSSU in which he rather-evasively noted: "I wish (Shawhan) well in his future endeavours and know he will be successful in whatever path he chooses."

Caught in the middle of Roque's decision to release Shawhan is LSSU athletic director Kris Dunbar. Dunbar, an outstanding former women's basketball coach at LSSU, was promoted to athletic director after both Roque and Shawhan were brought on board by since-reassigned former AD Bill Crawford three years ago.

As for Shawhan, the married father of three children said he will now explore coaching opportunities within the college and junior hockey circles. A wildly-successful coach well before he returned to LSSU three years ago, Shawhan had a stellar 10-year run as bench boss of the NAHL's Kewadin Casino Indians from 1996-2005 before the team folded. Shawhan became the winningest coach in the 30-year history of the NAHL, compiling an astounding overall wins/losses/ties record of 474-162-43 that included three league championships and three trips to the USA National Tournament.

WSU women name award winners

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Wayne State women announced the winners of their 2007-08 team awards at the season-end banquet held at Andiamo Restaurant in downtown Detroit yesterday.

Junior forward Melissa Boal was named team Most Valuable Player along with receiving the Top Gun award given to the team's leading scorer.

Senior goalie Valery Turcotte (pictured) was selected Best Defensive Player and also received the Most Improved award.

Senior forward Ashley King and sophomore defenseman Christine Jefferson were both President's Award winners holding back-to-back 4.0 GPA semesters. King also received the Warrior and Captain's Awards while the Rookie of the Year award went to freshman forward Janet Babchishin.

All five players were instrumental in leading the Warriors to a share of their first CHA regular season title with a school record 22 wins and first national ranking in school history (10th in USA Today/USA Hockey women's poll).

Boal played in 32 games tallying a point in 28 contests and finished first on the team with 69 points (35 goals, 34 assists). She became the first WSU women's hockey player in school history to be named to the 2007-08 RBK All-American First Team along with being selected as one of the top-10 finalists for the 2008 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award by the USA Hockey Foundation. She was named First Team All-CHA and was a CHA All-Academic Team selection as well. Boal set season school records in points (69), hat tricks (4), power-play goals (11), short-handed goals (3), points in a game (7) versus Union (Oct. 19) and points in a series (9) at Robert Morris (Jan. 25-26) while recording a career-best 18-game point streak (Jan. 5-Mar. 7). Boal also led the nation in points-per-game (2.16, 69 total), finished second in assists-per-game (1.06, 34 total), tied for second in short-handed goals per game (.09, three total), ranked third in goals-per-game (1.09, 35 total) and fourth in power-play goals (.34 ppg, 11 total). She also finished tied for seventh in game-winning goals (six total). Boal was named CHA Player of the Week a league-high five times (Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Mar. 3) while becoming the first Wayne State women's hockey player to score five goals and record seven points in a game. She has accumulated a school record 162 points (86-76) in 101 career games and over the past three years.

Turcotte played in 28 games and posted a 17-7-2 record. She was named to the All-CHA First Team, CHA All-Academic Team and 2008 CHA All-Tournament Team while ranking eighth nationally in overall winning percentage (.692), 20th in goals-against average (2.54) and 25th in save percentage (.906). Turcotte finished her career as the all-time WSU career leader in wins (46) and goaltending minutes played (5370:56) and ranks second all-time in WSU history in goals-against average (2.76), shutouts (9), career saves (2229) and third in save percentage (.896). This year she set single-season school records in shutouts (4), wins (17), overall record (17-7-2), consecutive wins (9) and consecutive games unbeaten streak (11 - Jan. 5-Feb. 15, 2008) while being named CHA Defensive Player of the Week three times (Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Mar. 3).

King played in all 34 games as team captain recording 10 points (three goals, seven assists). She was one of five national finalists in the collegiate division for the John Wooden Citizen Cup, which is an award given for the most outstanding role model among athletes and was one of eight national finalists for the 2008 Hockey Humanitarian Award, which is presented to college hockey's finest citizen. King was also a CHA All-Academic Team selection for the third straight year.

Jefferson played in all 34 games as an assistant captain recording nine points (one goal, eight assists) from her blueline position. She also was CHA All-Academic Team selection and finished +11 for the season.

Babchishin played in 33 games recording seven points (four goals, three assists). She recorded her first career assist against Union (Oct. 20) and scored her first career goal at Northeastern (Nov. 11).

Photo courtesy Mark Hicks/WestSide Photo

Tech, Ferris give out hardware

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Both Michigan Tech and Ferris State handed out their annual awards recently.


MICHIGAN TECH

Mitch’s Misfits Favorite Husky on the Ice Award -- Peter Rouleau
Blue Line Award -- Bethlan McCullum
John MacInnes Slide Rule Award (Scholastic Achievement) -- Eli Vlaisavljevich
Wildcat Slayer Award -- Jimmy Kerr
Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award -- Mark Malekoff
George McCarthy Performance Award For Athletic & Scholastic Achievement -- Tyler Shelast
Elov Seger Memorial Award (Most Improved Player) -- John Kivisto
Norbert Matovich Memorial Award (Outstanding Freshman) -- Eric Kattelus
Gitzen-Loutit Memorial Award (Outstanding Defenseman) -- Geoff Kinrade
Gary Crosby Memorial Award (Leading Scorer)/Merv Young Award (Most Valuable Player) -- Peter Rouleau


FERRIS STATE

Junior goaltender Mitch O'Keefe was named the recipient of the team's Most Valuable Player Award...Sophomore center-right wing Cody Chupp was presented with the Lloyd Earl Trophy as the team's top points leader and also received the Blue Line Competitive Award...The Steve Banonis Memorial Most Improved Player Award was given to two players this season - junior right wing Justin Lewandowski and sophomore left wing Blair Riley...Zach Redmond, the Bulldogs' top-scoring defenseman this season, received the FSU Rookie of the Year Award...The winner of the Plus/Minus Award was freshman defenseman Scott Wietecha, who generated a team-best plus 16 efficiency rating in 36 2007-08 season appearances...Sophomore center Aaron Lewicki picked up the Scholar-Athlete Award for having the highest grade-point average on the team...Dr. Scott Grindel and Bob Boyce were chosen as the recipients of the FSU Blue Line Club Recognition Award for their numerous contributions to the Bulldog hockey program. Dr. Grindel presently serves as the hockey program's physician while Boyce is the supervisor of Ferris State's off-ice officials and a longtime FSU Blue Line Club member.