Czarnik Tabbed to CCHA All-Rookie Team
3/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
March 5, 2012
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - Miami University freshman forward Austin Czarnik was named to the 2011-12 CCHA All-Rookie Team, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced Monday. Czarnik becomes the first RedHawk to land on the All-Rookie Team since junior Joe Hartman did so as a defenseman in 2009-10.
Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) is one of just six players selected to the team, joining Michigan's Alex Guptill and Ohio State's Max McCormick as the forwards. Western Michigan's Garrett Haar and Notre Dame's Robbie Russo were the defensemen chosen for the team while WMU's Frank Slubowski was the goaltender named to the All-Rookie Team.
Czarnik has had a stellar campaign for the RedHawks in his first year donning the red and white, as he has centered Miami's top line all season. He has posted nine goals, 20 assists and 29 points in 35 games this year, missing just one game. His 20 assists lead the team, rank first among CCHA rookies and tie for seventh among all CCHA players. His 29 points are second on the squad behind junior linemate Reilly Smith and second among CCHA freshmen, trailing only Guptill's 31.The 29 points also tie for 15th in the entire CCHA and 11th nationally among all freshmen.
In league play only, Czarnik tied for second among rookies with 20 points while his 10 goals were also second. He was named CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week three times this year, more than any other player, and also earned CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Month for November after posting 10 points in seven games (3g, 7a). He was named to the Denver Cup Classic All-Tournament Team in November as well, totaling four points in two games to help lead Miami to the title.
On the year, Czarnik has eight multi-point games, including four multi-assist games and recorded his first career multi-goal game in his last outing, Feb. 25 at Ohio State, tallying two goals. He finished with three points in that game, tying his career high, something he has achieved two other times as well. His +19 rating ties for the team lead and fifth in the league among all players. He has one power play goal and two short-handed goals while he has blocked 31 shots on the year, which is second among Miami's forwards.
Freshman forward Jimmy Mullin (Cincinnati, Ohio) garnered CCHA Honorable Mention All-Rookie Team, as he has played right wing on Miami's top line with Smith and Czarnik for much of the year, tallying 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists, all of which tie for third on the team. He is tied for seventh among CCHA freshmen with his 21 points. In league play only, he was fifth in freshman scoring with 18 points on seven goals and 11 assists.
A total of 16 freshmen received at least one vote as the team was determined by a vote of the league's head coaches. This year marks the 24th season the CCHA has named an All-Rookie Team, which will be honored at the 2012 CCHA Awards on March 15 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Mich.
2011-12 All-Rookie Team
Austin Czarnik, F, Miami
Alex Guptill, F, Michigan
Max McCormick, F, Ohio State
Garrett Haar, D, Western Michigan
Robbie Russo, D, Notre Dame
Frank Slubowski, G, Western Michigan
Honorable Mention: Forward -- Ryan Dzingel, OSU; Phil Di Giuseppe, UM; Matt Berry, MSU; Jimmy Mullin, MIA; Defense -- Jason Binkley, FSU; Kevin Czuczman, LSSU; Simon Denis, FSU; Jake Baker, NMU; Al McLean, OSU; Goaltender -- C.J. Motte.
--MURedHawks.com--
