Denver Defenseman Matt Carle Makes History, Earns Both WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year Awards

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Two upperclassmen from the University of Denver - defenseman Matt Carle and forward Ted O'Leary - together took home three of the top individual awards given out by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association today (March 16) at the league's 2006 Awards Banquet, presented by RBC Financial Group and held at Rivercentre in Saint Paul, Minn.

A junior and assistant team captain, Carle (Anchorage, AK) became the first player in WCHA history to earn both the WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year honors, while O'Leary (Arvada, Co), was named the 2005-06 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year. The annual league awards presentation marks the start of the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five championship weekend, being held today through Saturday (March 18) at Xcel Energy Center.

The WCHA Rookie of the Year award for 2005-06 went to freshman forward Phil Kessel of the University of Minnesota, the 2005-06 WCHA Scoring Champion was University of Denver forward Paul Stastny, and the 2005-06 WCHA Goaltending Champion was Brian Elliott of the University of Wisconsin. The WCHA Coach of the Year award for 2005-06 was shared by the University of Minnesota's Don Lucia and St. Cloud State University's Bob Motzko.

The WCHA Player of the Year Award, presented by RBC Financial Group, is voted on by coaches, student-athletes, sports information directors and media, while the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league's ten head coaches. Carle, who also earned All-WCHA First Team honors for the second straight season, is the top scoring defenseman both in the WCHA and in Div. 1 hockey though March 9 with 11 goals, 39 assists and 50 points, an average of 1.39 points per game. The 'complete package', he quarterbacks the Pioneers' top-rated WCHA power-play, is a primary penalty-killer, averages over 30 minutes of on-ice time per game, and leads his team in blocked shots. He was also named to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the second time, carrying an overall grade-point average of 3.3 in Real Estate/Construction Management, was honored as WCHA Defensive Player of the Week three times during the regular season, and shows career numbers of 29 goals, 91 assists and 120 points in 109 games played for the two-time defending national champions. Carle was a First Team All-American selection in 2004-05.

The WCHA Student Athlete of the Year Award, presented by RBC Financial Group, went to four-year veteran forward and assistant team captain Ted O'Leary of University of Denver. O'Leary, a senior who carries a 3.89 cumulative grade-point average at DU, represents the epitome of the collegiate student-athletes. He is an enthusiastic participant in community programs, especially those serving children, is involved in the reading program at a nearby elementary school, and pays regular visits to a local children's hospital. Originally a walk-on at DU, O'Leary is a four-year member of the Pioneer hockey team and two-time national champion, is currently working toward an MBA within a 3/2 program and is a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and member of the All-WCHA Academic Team. He has already completed work toward his bachelor's degree in Biology which will serve to help him gain admission to medical school. One of the team's top defensive specialists, O'Leary has played in 34 of his team's 36 games this season with just four minor penalties. His career totals show 64 games played with one goal, five assists and six scoring points. The WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award is determined from nominations made by the member institutions and each institution then has one final vote. The criteria is as follows: 1) must be a senior student-athlete, i.e. one who is finishing his competition as an eligible player in the WCHA; 2) consistently displays outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice; 3) is a good student making satisfactory progress toward a degree; and 4) is a good hockey player who has performed consistently as a regular member of the team.

The WCHA Rookie of the Year Award for 2005-06, presented by RBC Financial Group, went to University of Minnesota centerman Phil Kessel (Madison, WI), who topped all first-year players in the WCHA in scoring during the regular season with 14 goals, 28 assists and 42 points overall and 12-21-33 in 28 conference games. He was also named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team and ranked second both nationally and among his Golden Gopher teammates in scoring through March 9. He was honored as WCHA Rookie of the Week three times this winter and also earned the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Rookie of the Month award this past November.

For the first time since the award was first presented in 1959-60, two individuals shared the WCHA Coach of the Year award in Don Lucia of Minnesota and Bob Motzko of St. Cloud State. Lucia, who previously won the coach of the year honor with Colorado College in both 1993-94 and 1995-96, guided his Golden Gophers to the 2005-06 WCHA championship and MacNaughton Cup with a 20-5-3 league mark and to the nation's No. 1 ranking with an overall record of 25-6-5 through March 9. Minnesota was the only team in the WCHA to register a victory against every other conference opponent in 2005-06. Motzko, who is in his first season behind the bench of the SCSU Huskies and formerly served as an assistant coach at UM, has led his club to a 18-14-4 overall record through March 9 and to a top 20 ranking in the national polls. The Huskies, who finished ninth in the WCHA a year ago, moved up three places to sixth this in the final conference regular season standings and were in the running for a top five league until the final weekend of the regular season. Along the way, SCSU recorded victories over the likes of nationally-ranked Minnesota, Denver, North Dakota, Colorado College, and Northern Michigan.

The 2005-06 WCHA Scoring Champion is University of Denver sophomore center Paul Stastny (St. Louis, MO), who led the conference with 15 goals, 29 assists and 44 points in 28 games. The son of NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny and the first Denver player to win the league scoring title since Dave Shields in 1989-90, Paul also earned All-WCHA First Team selection, is a member of the All-WCHA Academic Team, and was a two-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honoree.

The WCHA Goaltending Champion for 2005-06 is Brian Elliott, a junior at the University of Wisconsin. Elliott topped the conference in both goals-against average at 1.84, saves percentage at .930, and shared the best record in the WCHA at 15-3-3. His 1.84 GAA was the sixth best in the 54-year history of the WCHA. Elliott was also named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week five times, was the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Player of the Month last November, and as of March 9, ranked first in winning percentage at .796 on a 20-4-3 overall record, was second nationally in goals-against average at 1.76, and was third in saves percentage at .931.

Named to the 2005-06 All-WCHA First Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are league games only): F - Ryan Potulny, Jr, Minnesota (28 gp, 23-19-42); F - Brett Sterling, Sr, Colorado College (27 gp, 18-14-32); F - Paul Stastny, So, Denver (28 gp, 15-29-44); D - Matt Carle, So, Denver (28 gp, 9-33-42); D - Tom Gilbert, Sr, Wisconsin (28 gp, 10-14-24); G - Bobby Goepfert, Jr, St. Cloud State (12-12-2, 2.09 GAA, .926 SV%). Both Sterling, who was the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Player of the Month this past October, and Carle are repeat first team selections. Potulny, who was the HCA's National Player of the Month for February, and Gilbert were All-WCHA Third Team choices in 2004-05. Stastny was a member of the All-WCHA Rookie Team a year ago while Goepfert is in his first playing season at SCSU after transferring from Providence.

Named to the 2005-06 All-WCHA Second Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are league games only): F - Joe Pavelski, So, Wisconsin (28 gp, 15-24-39); F - Marty Sertich, Sr, Colorado College (28 gp, 10-21-31); F - David Backes, Jr, Minnesota State (27 gp, 10-22-32); D - Alex Goligoski, So, Minnesota (28 gp, 7-17-24); D - Brian Salcido, Jr, Colorado College (28 gp, 3-18-21); G - Brian Elliott, Jr, Wisconsin (15-3-3, 1.84 GAA, .930 SV%). Sertich earned another all-league honor, after being a first team choice in 2004-05, Backes was a third team choice last winter, and both Pavelski and Goligoski were members of the All-WCHA Rookie Team as freshmen. Elliott, meanwhile, was the HCA National Player of the Month this past November.

Members of the 2005-06 All-WCHA Third Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are for league games only): F - Drew Stafford, Jr, North Dakota (28 gp, 16-20-36); F - Ryan Dingle, So, Denver (27 gp, 22-14-36); F - Danny Irmen, Jr, Minnesota (18 gp, 10-13-23); D - Chris Harrington, Sr, Minnesota (27 gp, 3-18-21); D - Matt Smaby, Jr, North Dakota (28 gp, 1-9-10); G - Jordan Parise, Jr, North Dakota (13-7-0, 2.41 GAA, .924 SV%). Irmen, who was also a third team choice in 2004-05, was the HCA National Player of the Month in January.

Nine players who were named to the three all-league teams this season were also honored with selection to the 2005-06 All-WCHA Academic Team. They were: Brett Sterling, F, Colorado College; Matt Carle, D, Denver; Paul Stastny, F, Denver; David Backes, F, Minnesota State; Jordan Parise, G, North Dakota; Matt Smaby, F, North Dakota; Drew Stafford, F, North Dakota; Brian Elliott, G, Wisconsin; and Tom Gilbert, D, Wisconsin.

Named to the 2005-06 All-WCHA Rookie Team, presented by RBC Financial Group, were (statistics shown are for league games only): F - Phil Kessel, Fr, Minnesota (28 gp, 12-21-33); F - T.J. Oshie, Fr, North Dakota (28 gp, 13-11-24); F - Mason Raymond, Fr, Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 8-15-23); D - Chris Butler, Fr, Denver (26 gp, 6-11-17); D - Brian Lee, Fr, North Dakota (28 gp, 2-12-14); G - Dan Tormey, Fr, Minnesota State (10-10-3, 2.83 GAA, .903 SV%). Kessel and Oshie were both second on their respective teams in scoring thru March 9, Raymond led the Bulldogs, and Kessel, Oshie, Butler and Lee were all members of the 2005-06 U.S. National Junior Team.

Voting for the WCHA's annual post-season awards is done by Association-member team coaches, players, sports information directors and media. After member head coaches submit nominees from their own teams in each respective category to the league office, the ten member institutions then each receive eight final voting ballots which contain the coaches' nominations as well as space for additional write-in candidates. Points for the all-league teams are awarded on a 5 (first team vote), 3 (second team vote), 1 (third team vote) basis.

The WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league's head coaches while the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year is chosen by institutional representatives.

WCHA Coach of the Year
Don Lucia, University of Minnesota Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State University

2005-06 All-WCHA First Team

Pos	Name	Team	Hgt	Wgt	Yr	Hometown	Pts
F	Ryan Potulny	Minnesota	6-0	193	Jr	Grand Forks, ND	367
F	Brett Sterling	Colorado College	5-8	182	Sr	Pasadena, CA	287
F	Paul Stastny	Denver	6-0	210	So	St. Louis, MO	266
D	Matt Carle	Denver	6-0	195	Jr	Anchorage, AK	390
D	Tom Gilbert	Wisconsin	6-3	210	Sr	Bloomington, MN	304
G	Bobby Goepfert	St. Cloud State	5-10	170	Jr	Kings Park, NY	314

2005-06 All-WCHA Second Team

Pos	Name	Team	Hgt	Wgt	Yr	Hometown	Pts
F	Joe Pavelski	Wisconsin	5-11	185	So	Plover, WI	204
F	Marty Sertich	Colorado College	5-8	165	Sr	Roseville, MN	143
F	David Backes	Minnesota State	6-3	210	Jr	Blaine, MN	138
D	Alex Goligoski	Minnesota	6-0	178	So	Grand Rapids, MN	222
D	Brian Salcido	Colorado College	6-2	193	Jr	Hermosa Beach, CA	174
G	Brian Elliott	Wisconsin	6-3	187	Jr	Newmarket, ON	270

2005-06 All-WCHA Third Team

Pos	Name	Team	Hgt	Wgt	Yr	Hometown	Pts
F	Drew Stafford	North Dakota	6-2	200	Jr	Faribault, MN	131
F	Ryan Dingle	Denver	5-10	190	So	Steamboat Springs, CO	118
F	Danny Irmen	Minnesota	6-0	193	Jr	Fargo, ND	113
D	Chris Harrington	Minnesota	6-0	182	Sr	St. Cloud, MN	122
D	Matt Smaby	North Dakota	6-5	220	Jr	Minneapolis, MN	76
G	Jordan Parise	North Dakota	5-11	190	Jr	Faribault, MN	58

2005-06 All-WCHA Rookie Team

Pos	Name	Team	Hgt	Wgt	Yr	Hometown	Votes
F	Phil Kessel	Minnesota	6-0	190	Fr	Madison, WI	73
F	T.J. Oshie	North Dakota	5-11	182	Fr	Warroad, MN	72
F	Mason Raymond	Minnesota Duluth	6-0	170	Fr	Cochrane, AB	40
D	Chris Butler	Denver	6-1	185	Fr	St. Louis, MO	55
D	Brian Lee	North Dakota	6-3	190	Fr	Moorhead, MN	50
G	Dan Tormey	Minnesota State	6-2	195	Fr	Syracuse, NY	55

2005-06 All-WCHA Rookie Team

Pos	Name	Team	Hgt	Wgt	Yr	Hometown	Votes
F	Phil Kessel	Minnesota	6-0	190	Fr	Madison, WI	73
F	T.J. Oshie	North Dakota	5-11	182	Fr	Warroad, MN	72
F	Mason Raymond	Minnesota Duluth	6-0	170	Fr	Cochrane, AB	40
D	Chris Butler	Denver	6-1	185	Fr	St. Louis, MO	55
D	Brian Lee	North Dakota	6-3	190	Fr	Moorhead, MN	50
G	Dan Tormey	Minnesota State	6-2	195	Fr	Syracuse, NY	55

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - A total of ninety-two (92) student-athletes, representing all 10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member institutions, were honored today (March 16) as members of the 2005-06 All-WCHA Academic Team at the annual WCHA Awards Banquet, presented by RBC Financial Group, and held at Rivercentre. This represents a gain of four student-athletes who earned All-WCHA Academic Team accolades over the previous season's total of 88, while 47 are repeat honorees.

In addition to the 92 players named to the all-league's academic team, University of Denver senior forward Ted O'Leary was honored as the recipient of the prestigious 2005-06 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award, presented by RBC Financial Group.

To earn a position on the All-WCHA Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following criteria: 1) have completed at least one year of residency at present institution prior to the current academic year; 2) have a grade point average of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his overall GPA is at least 3.00 for all terms at his present institution. An annual All-WCHA Academic Team was instituted by the conference beginning with the 1984-85 season.

University of Alaska Anchorage: Chad Anderson* (Jr, D, Chisago City, MN); Luke Beaverson (So, D, Vadnais Heights, MN); Peter Cartwright (So, F, Anchorage, AK); Charlie Kronschnabel* (Jr, F, Mendota Heights, MN); Ryan McMullan (Jr, D, Eagle River, AK); Ales Parez* (Sr, F, Nymburk, Czech Republic); Mark Smith*, Jr, D, Edmonton, AB); Chris Tarkir (So, F, Fresno, CA); Blair Tassone (So, F, Castlegar, BC); Eric Walsky (So, F, Anchorage, AK).

Colorado College: Joey Crabb (Sr, F, Anchorage, AK); Trevor Frischmon* (Sr, F, Ham Lake, MN); Jack Hillen (So, D, Minnetonka, MN); Chris Kawano (Jr, G, Aurora, CO); Scott McCulloch (So, F, Lacombe, AB); Brett Sterling* (Sr, F, Pasadena, CA); Jesse Stokke* (Sr, D/F, Hermantown, MN); Lee Sweatt* (Jr, D, Elburn, IL); Scott Thauwald* (Jr, F, Rochester, MN); Matt Zaba* (Jr, G, Yorkton, SK).

University of Denver: Zach Blom (Jr, D, Englewood, CO); Matt Carle* (Jr, D, Anchorage, AK); Steven Cook (Jr, F, Denver, CO); J.D. Corbin* (Jr, F, Littleton, CO); Glenn Fisher* (Jr, G, Edmonton, AB); Ryan Helgason* (Jr, F, Woodbury, MN); Jon James* (Jr, D, Arnold, MD); Danny King* (Jr, G, Colorado Springs, CO); Brock McMorris* (Jr, F, Cherry Hills, CO); Ted O'Leary* (Sr, F, Arvada, CO); Paul Stastny (So, F, St. Louis, MO); Andrew Thomas (So, D, Bow, NH).

Michigan Tech University: Nick Anderson* (Sr, F, Winthrop Harbor, IL); Mike Batovanja (Jr, F, Hinton, AB); Kevin Hachey (So, G, Ontario, CA); Lars Helminen* (Jr, D, Brighton, MI); Mark Malekoff (So, D, Grande Prairie, AB); Pekka Saittakari* (Sr, D, Heinola, Finland); Brandon Schwartz* (Sr, F, St. Cloud, MN); Tyler Skworchinski* (Jr, F, Marathon, ON).

University of Minnesota: Kellen Briggs* (Jr, G, Colorado Springs, CO); Gino Guyer* (Sr, F, Coleraine, MN); Mike Howe (So, F, Oakdale, MN); Evan Kaufmann (So, F, Plymouth, MN); Peter Kennedy* (Sr, D, Brookfield, NS); Derek Peltier (So, D, Plymouth, MN); Tom Pohl (So, F, Red Wing, MN). University of Minnesota Duluth: Dan Carlson (So, G, White Bear Lake, MN); Isaac Reichmuth (Sr, G, Fruitvale, BC).

Minnesota State University: David Backes* (Jr, F, Blaine, MN); Chad Brownlee* (Jr, D, Kelowna, BC); Ryan Carter (So, F, White Bear Lake, MN); Chris Clark* (Jr, G, San Mateo, CA); Lucas Fransen* (Jr, D, Langley, BC); Joel Hanson (So, F, Elk River, MN); Mark Hinz (So, D, Waldheim, SK); Kurtis Kisio* (Jr, F, Calgary, AB); R.J. Linder (So, D, St. Cloud, MN); Shane McCormick (So, F, Mission, BC); Ryan McKelvie* (Sr, F, New Brighton, MN); Travis Morin* (Jr, F, Brooklyn Park, MN); Steve Wagner (So, D, Grand Rapids, MN).

University of North Dakota: Robbie Bina (Jr, D, Grand Forks, ND); Erik Fabian* (Jr, F, Roseau, MN); Scott Foyt* (Jr, F/D, Andover, MN); Jordan Parise* (Jr, G, Faribault, MN); Chris Porter (Jr, F, Thunder Bay, ON); Matt Smaby (Jr, D, Minneapolis, MN); Drew Stafford (Jr, F, Faribault, MN); Travis Zajac (So, F, Winnipeg, MB).

St. Cloud State University: Chris Anderson (So, D, North Oaks, MN); Tim Boron* (Jr, G, Winnipeg, MB); Aaron Brocklehurst (So, D, Nanaimo, BC); Justin Fletcher (Jr, D, Maryville, IL); Matt Francis (So, F, Surrey, BC); Andrew Gordon (So, F, Porters Lake, NS); Matt Hartman (So, F, St. CLoud, MN); Billy Hengen* (Sr, F, Eden Prairie, MN); Gary Houseman* (Jr, F, Saskatoon, SK); Joe Jensen* (Sr, F, Maple Grove, MN); T.J. McElroy* (Sr, D, Golden Valley, MN); Marty Mjelleli (So, F, Faribault, MN); Nate Raduns* (Jr, F, Sauk Rapids, MN); Konrad Reeder* (Sr, F, Vanderhoof, BC); Josh Singer* (Sr, D/F, Lino Lakes, MN); Matt Stephenson (So, D, Midland, ON).

University of Wisconsin: Brian Elliott* (Jr, G, Newmarket, ON); Matthew Ford (So, F, West Hills, CA); Tom Gilbert (Sr, D, Bloomington, MN); Nick Licari* (Sr, F, Duluth, MN); Matt Olinger* (Jr, D, Madison, WI).