April 7, 2004

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BOSTON, Mass. ­ A total of eight Western Collegiate Hockey Association student-athletes, including WCHA Player of the Year and senior forward Junior Lessard and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and senior defenseman Ryan Caldwell, have been honored as JOFA All-Americans for 2003-04, as announced today (April 7) by the American Hockey Coaches' Association.

Lessard (University of Minnesota-Duluth) and Caldwell (University of Denver) were joined on the All-American First Team by four other WCHA players in goaltender Bernd Bruckler (University of Wisconsin), defenseman Keith Ballard (University of Minnesota), forward Brandon Bochenski (University of North Dakota) and forward Zach Parise (University of North Dakota).

Named to the JOFA All-American Second Team from the WCHA were senior defenseman Beau Geisler (University of Minnesota-Duluth) and sophomore forward Thomas Vanek (University of Minnesota).

Lessard, an All-WCHA First Team choice who is one of three finalists for the 2004 Hobey Baker Memorial Award (to be announced here on Friday, April 9), shared the WCHA scoring championship this season (39 points in 28 conference games) with Bochenski and is the top point-producing player in Div. 1 hockey this season with 30 goals, 31 assists and 61 points in 44 games heading into the NCAA Men's Frozen Four. Caldwell, Denver's team captain, is one of the top scoring blueliners in college hockey this season with 14 goals, 12 assists and 26 points in 40 games heading into the Frozen Four. Bruckler won the WCHA goaltending title this winter with a 2.11 goals-against average in league play, was an All-WCHA First Team honoree, and is among the top 10 ranked Div. 1 netminders in goals-against average (2.09, 8th) and save percentage (.924, 8th) and owns a 19-10-8 record. Ballard, an All-WCHA First Teamer, is second in points per game among all Div. 1 defensemen this season at 0.97 with 11 goals, 25 assists and 36 points in 37 games. Bochenski, an All-WCHA First Team honoree, shared the league scoring title with Lessard and is third in points per game among all Div. 1 players at 1.46 on 27 goals, 33 assists and 60 points. Parise, an All-WCHA First Team selection last month who recently signed a pro contract with the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils and led the USA to a Gold Medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland in January, is second among all Div. 1 skaters in points per game this season at 1.49 on 23 goals, 32 assists and 55 points in 37 games. Geisler, who was an All-WCHA First Team honoree this season, is captain of the UMD Bulldogs and is third in points per game among Div. 1 defenders heading into the Frozen Four at 0.89 points per game (9-25=34). And Vanek, an All-WCHA Second Team choice this winter, was the Golden Gophers' leading scorer in 2003-04 with 26 goals, 25 assists and 51 points in 38 games played.

The JOFA All-American Ice Hockey Teams are sponsored by JOFA, an international leader in hockey equipment, and chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches' Association.

JOFA All-American West First Team
G - Bernd Bruckler, Jr, University of Wisconsin (Graz, Austria), D - Keith Ballard, Jr, University of Minnesota (Baudette, MN); D - Ryan Caldwell, Sr, University of Denver (DeLoraine, MB); F - Brandon Bochenski, Jr, University of North Dakota (Blaine, MN); F - Junior Lessard, Sr, University of Minnesota-Duluth (St. Joseph deBeauce, QC); F - Zach Parise, So, University of North Dakota (Faribault, MN).

JOFA All-American West Second Team
G - Al Montoya, So, University of Michigan (Glenview, IL); D - Beau Geisler, Sr, University of Minnesota-Duluth (Coleraine, MN); D - A.J. Thelen, Fr, Michigan State University (Savage, MN); F - Derek Edwardson, Sr, Miami University (Morton Grove, IL); F - Jim Slater, Jr, Michigan State University (Detroit, MI); F - Thomas Vanek, So, University of Minnesota (Graz, Austria).

JOFA All-American East First Team
G - Yann Danis, Sr, Brown University (Saint Jerome, QC); D - Andrew Alberts, Jr, Boston College (Eden Prairie, MN); D - Thomas Pock, Sr, University of Massachusetts (Klagenfurt, Austria); F - Steve Saviano, Sr, University of New Hampshire (Reading, MA); F - Lee Stempniak, Jr, Dartmouth College (West Senaca, NY); F - Tony Voce, Sr, Boston College (Philadelphia, PA).

JOFA All-American East Second Team
G - Jim Howard, So, University of Maine (Ogdensburg, NY); D - Prestin Ryan, Sr, University of Maine (Arcola, SK); D - Stephen Wood, Sr, Providence College (Sudbury, MA); F - Patrick Eaves, So, Boston College (Faribault, MN); Todd Jackson, Sr, University of Maine (Cortland, NY); F - Ryan Shannon, Jr, Boston College (Darien, CT); F - Colin Shields, Sr, University of Maine (Glasgow, Scotland).

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