Alec Martinez Brings Home CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman Award
3/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
March 20, 2008
Detroit, Mich. - Junior blueliner Alec Martinez was honored by the CCHA Thursday night, as the league's best defensive defenseman. Martinez tallied 17 points and finished +15 on a Miami team that placed first in the conference in team defense and second in penalty-killing.
Senior forward Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) joined David Oliver and Brendan Morrison as the only Michigan Wolverines to be named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Year at the annual CCHA Awards banquet on Thursday, March 20. Nine individual awards were handed out at Detroit's historic Fox Theatre, including six determined by a vote of the league's 12 coaches.
Porter led the nation with 54 points and a 1.50 points-per-game average. He captured the CCHA scoring title by seven points, was named First Team All-Conference and was also the overall Perani Cup champion for being named a game star in 15 of 28 league contests.
Michigan forward Max Pacioretty (New Canaan, Conn.) joined linemate Porter on the podium as the CCHA Rookie of the Year. In conference scoring, Pacioretty finished first among rookies and eighth overall with 28 points in 25 games. He led rookies with a +20 rating and tied for first with six power-play goals.
Michigan's Red Berenson was recognized as the CCHA Coach of the Year after leading the Wolverines to their 10th CCHA regular-season championship. The Wolverines spent much of the season atop the national polls and owned the second-highest scoring offense in the country. This is the second time Berenson has won the award (1994).
Michigan State junior goaltender Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) was named Scholar Athlete of the Year. Lerg, a finance major who led the CCHA in victories and shutouts, has a 3.74 grade-point average.
The eighth annual Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award was presented to Michigan State junior forward Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich.). Abdelkader, who has been involved in a multitude of community service activities, was instrumental in the "Shoot for a Cure" promotion at home games that raised more than $5,000 for cancer research. The Ilitch Humanitarian Award is given to 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.
Notre Dame senior defenseman Dan VeNard (Vernon Hills, Ill.) was presented with the Terry Flanagan Memorial Award in recognition of his perseverance, dedication and courage while overcoming severe adversity. Beset by injuries in his junior and college careers that limited him to just 61 games over his first three seasons at Notre Dame, VeNard has remained healthy this season and appeared in every game while posting career highs for goals and points.
Abdelkader's second piece of hardware was earned as the Best Defensive Forward. The junior center scored 27 points in 28 conference games and finished +11. The Spartans finished third in team defense and first in the Net Special Teams category.
Alaska junior Tyler Eckford (Langley, BC) picked up the Best Offensive Defenseman Award after finishing third in the nation in defensive scoring, and leading CCHA blueliners with 18 assists and 23 points in 28 conference games.
