March 18, 2010

Photo Gallery

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- As a team, the Miami RedHawks cruised to the 2009-10 Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title. Thursday night at the CCHA Awards Banquet at the Fox Theater in Detroit, the individual awards poured in.

The RedHawks hear their names called in all four specialty awards they were finalists for, including Cody Reichard as RBC Player of the Year and Enrico Blasi as Coach of the Year. Tommy Wingels was named the league's Best Defensive Forward, while Will Weber was selected as the Best Defensive Defenseman.

Reichard, a native of Celina, Ohio, finished the regular season as the CCHA leader in goals-against average (1.23), save percentage (.950), and shutouts (5). He also led the nation in overall GAA (1.48) and winning percentage (.841).

Blasi was named the CCHA Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his 11 seasons as the RedHawk bench boss. He led the RedHawks to the program's third CCHA regular-season title with a stellar 21-2-5-2 conference record, including a 23-game unbeaten streak in league play. Blasi joined legendary Ron Mason as the only CCHA coaches to win the award more than three times.

Wingels, a junior and the team captain, and Weber played key roles in Miami only allowing 39 goals in league play. Wingels had a +12 rating in league play, while Weber was the anchor of a youthful defensive corps.

Northern Michigan junior defenseman Erik Gustafsson was honored as the Best Offensive Defenseman for the second straight season. The Wildcat captain led CCHA defensemen in league scoring and finished second among all players in assists with 21.

Alaska forward Andy Taranto became the first Nanook to be honored as the CCM/CCHA Rookie of the Year, leading all first-year players in conference scoring with 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points. Taranto also finished the CCHA regular season ranked third in the nation in rookie scoring with a 16-23-39 line.

Alaska senior forward Dion Knelsen picked up two major awards. He was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year, holding a 3.984 grade-point average in business administration major. He was also the recipient of the Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award as the league's top citizen, based on his contributions off the ice, as well as on, to his team, his program, his school and his community.

Ferris State senior forward Aaron Lewicki was presented with the Terry Flanagan Memorial Award in recognition of his perseverance, dedication and courage while overcoming severe adversity. Lewicki's mother passed away during his time at Ferris State and he suffers from a congenital back condition. Despite these obstacles, Lewicki has played a prominent role in the Bulldog program and their rise to third place in the CCHA standings this season.

Three other RedHawks were honored. Jarod Palmer joined Reichard on the all-conference first team, while Andy Miele paired with Wingels on the second team. Carter Camper was recognized as Miami's Scholar-Athlete nominee.

Also as part of the CCHA Awards program in Detroit, the Hobey Baker Award Committee announced its Top Ten Finalists, including Reichard. The other nine are (alphabetically): Bobby Butler, New Hampshire, Marc Cheverie, Denver, Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin, Gustav Nyquist, Maine, Mark Olver, Northern Michigan, Chase Polacek, Rensselear, Rhett Rakhshani, Denver, Cody Reichard, Miami of Ohio, Ben Scrivens, Cornell, and Brendan Smith, Wisconsin.

The Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists will be announced on March 31, 2010 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced Friday, April 9, 2010 from Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., during the NCAA Frozen Four. The announcement will be aired live on ESPNU at 7:00 p.m. ET. Following, in alphabetical order, is a look at each finalist.

More information, and a fan voting component, can be found by visiting www.hobeybaker.com.

The top-seeded RedHawks continue their quest for their first-ever Mason Cup tomorrow night at Joe Louis Arena. They face No. 7 seed Michigan in the second semifinal. Ferris State and Northern Michigan suit up in the other semifinal contest.