April 12, 2006

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MADISON, Wisc. - Before a raucous, partisan sellout crowd of 17,758, the University of Wisconsin Badgers captured the program's sixth NCAA men's ice hockey championship with a 2-1 victory over the Boston College Eagles in the 2006 title game on Saturday evening, April 8 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The game attendance of 17,758 is the fifth highest in NCAA championship history.

Head Coach Mike Eaves' Badgers (30-10-5), who trailed BC 1-0 after the first period, had a second period tally from Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player and left winger Robbie Earl at 1:17 - his third goal of the championship weekend - a third period power-play game-winning goal from defenseman Tom Gilbert at 9:32, a pair of assists from captain Adam Burish, and 22 saves from goaltender Brian Elliott to claim their first national title since 1990. For Boston College (26-13-3), center Pat Gannon had the game-opening goal at 9:01 of the opening period.

Wisconsin advanced to the national championship game by virtue of a 5-2 victory over the Maine Black Bears (28-12-2) in a Frozen Four semi-final on Thursday (April 6) evening. Before a capacity crowd of 17,691, the UW had two goals - including the game-winner - and an assist from Earl, a shorthanded goal and assist from left winger Ross Carlson, a goal and an assist from Burish and 32 saves from Elliott. The game was tied 1-1 after one before the Badgers scored twice in both the second and third periods.

The Bradley Center and the City of Milwaukee, hosting the NCAA Frozen Four for the third time, proved to be the perfect setting for Wisconsin's storied program to regain glory and move up a notch in all-time national team championships won with six, behind Michigan's nine and Denver and North Dakota's seven each. The championship also gave the Western Collegiate Hockey Association it's fifth straight NCAA crown, sixth in the past seven seasons, and record 36th overall since the league's founding in 1951.

The Badgers made their 11th appearance in the Frozen Four. In addition to their six national championships, they have also finished as the national runner-up twice, in 1982 and 1992.

Wisconsin and Boston College were joined in the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four by the WCHA's University of North Dakota and Hockey East Association's University of Maine. The Fighting Sioux (29-16-1), who were making their second straight Frozen Four appearance under second-year head coach Dave Hakstol, fell by one goal, 6-5, to Boston College on Thursday (April 6) afternoon in one of the two national semi-finals.

For North Dakota against the Eagles, center Travis Zajac had a goal and two assists and defenseman Brian Lee had a goal and an assist. The Sioux outshot the Eagles, 41-31, but were one-of-eight on the power-play and trailed 3-0 after the first period and 5-2 early in the third before rallying for three goals over the final 11:49 to close to within one in a dramatic comeback attempt.

Named to the 2006 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team were Wisconsin goaltender Brian Elliott, Wisconsin defenseman Tom Gilbert, Boston College defenseman Brett Motherwell, Wisconsin forwards Adam Burish and Robbie Earl, and Boston College forward Chris Collins.

Wisconsin, the No. 1 overall seed for the national tournament, advanced to the Frozen Four by capturing the Midwest Regional championship at Resch Center in Green Bay with a 4-0 victory over Bemidji State on March 25 and a 1-0, triple overtime, win over Cornell on March 26. The game with Cornell, decided by Jack Skille's goal at 11:13 of the third overtime, was the second longest in NCAA tournament history at 111:13, behind the 123:53 contest between St. Lawrence (3) and Boston University (2) at the East Regional on March 26, 2000.

North Dakota won the West Regional championship at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks on March 24-25 to advance to the Frozen Four, with a 5-1 triumph over Michigan and a 5-2 victory over Holy Cross. The Sioux, who also captured the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five and Broadmoor Trophy, finished as the national runner-up in 2005 in Columbus, dropping a 4-1 decision to Denver in the Frozen Four title game.

Two other WCHA-member teams participating in the 2006 NCAA tournament, Minnesota and Colorado College, fell short in their respective bids to reach the Frozen Four. The WCHA regular season and MacNaughton Cup-champion Golden Gophers (27-9-5) were upset by Holy Cross, 4-3 in overtime, in the West Regional in Grand Forks on Friday, March 24, while the Tigers (24-16-2) dropped a 3-2 decision to Cornell in the Midwest Regional in Green Bay on Saturday, March 25. Minnesota held a 3-2 lead over Holy Cross in the third period while Colorado College led the Red Raiders 2-0 after the first period and 2-1 after two.

Now home to a collegiate record 36 national championship teams since it's founding in 1951, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has won the past five consecutive NCAA Men's Frozen Fours and is within an overtime goal of having won seven straight. North Dakota won the national championship in 2000, Minnesota captured the title in both 2002 and 2003, Denver won in 2004 and 2005, and Wisconsin won here in 2006. In 2001, North Dakota dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Boston College in the national championship game.

The Badgers' 2006 national championship also makes the University of Wisconsin the first Div. 1 institution to capture both the men's and women's ice hockey national titles in the same season.

2006 NCAA Frozen Four Results
Thursday, April 6 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
Semi-Final: Boston College 6 vs North Dakota 5
Semi-Final: Maine 2 vs Wisconsin 5

Saturday, April 8 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
National Championship Game: Boston College 1 vs Wisconsin 2

2006 NCAA Frozen Four Summaries
Thursday, April 6
Semi-Final: Boston College 6 vs North Dakota 5
1st: G1 BC - Brett Motherwell 4 (Andrew Orpik, Pat Gannon), 7:43; G2 BC - Chris Collins 32 (Mike Brennan), SHG, 12:34; G3 BC - Collins 33 (Brock Bradford), 18:08. 2nd: G4 UND - Rastislav Spirko 11 (Travis Zajac), SHG, 4:23; G5 UND - Rylan Kaip 3 (Matt Watkins, Chris Porter), 13:25; G6 BC - Anthony Aiello 1 (unassisted), 15:38; G7 BC - Collins 34 (Benn Ferriero, Cory Schneider), PPG, 19:37. 3rd: G8 UND - Jonathan Toews 22 (unassisted), PPG, 8:11; G9 BC - Nathan Gerbe 11 (Tim Filangieri), GWG, 10:33; G10 UND - Zajac 18 (Drew Stafford, Brian Lee), SHG, 15:42; G11 UND - Lee 4 (Zajac), EA, 19:47. Score by Periods: BC 3-2-1 = 6; UND 0-2-3 = 5. Pen: BC 11-22; UND 9-18. PP: BC 1-6; UND 1-8. Saves: Cory Schneider (BC), 12-9-15 = 36 (60:00); Jordan Parise (UND), 2-14-9 = 25 (57:57). Att: 17,637 (sellout). Time: 2:43

Semi-Final: Maine 2 vs Wisconsin 5
1st: G1 UW - Adam Burish 9 (Joe Pavelski, Robbie Earl), 10:11; G2 UM - Michel Leveille 16 (Matt Duffy), 17:37. 2nd: G3 UW - Ross Carlson 11 (unassisted), SHG, 4:18; G4 UW - Earl 22 (Burish), PPG/GWG, 8:16. 3rd: G5 UM - Mike Lundin 3 (Greg Moore, Josh Soares), 11:29; G6 UW - Ben Street 10 (Carlson, Jack Skille), 12:26; G7 UW - Earl 23 (Josh Engel), ENG, 18:16. Score by Periods: UM 1-0-1 = 2; UW 1-2-2 = 5. Pen: UM 8-16; UW 8-16. PP: UM 0-7; UW 1-6. Saves: Ben Bishop (UM), 8-11-15 = 34 (59:10); Brian Elliott (UW), 7-19-6 = 32 (60:00). Att: 17,691 (sellout). Time: 2:29.

Saturday, April 8
Championship Game: Boston College 1 vs Wisconsin 2
1st: G1 BC - Pat Gannon 5 (Dan Bertram), 9:01. 2nd: G2 UW - Robbie Earl 24 (Adam Burish, Joe Pavelski), 1:17. 3rd: G3 UW - Tom Gilbert 12 (Pavelski, Burish), PPG/GWG, 9:32. Score by Periods: BC 1-0-0 = 1; UW 1-0-1 = 2. Pen: BC 10-20; UW 6-12. PP: BC 0-4; UW 1-8. Saves: Cory Schneider (BC), 17-10-10 = 37 (59:36); Brian Elliott (UW), 8-10-4 = 22 (59:49). Att: 17,758 (sellout). Time: 2:30.

2006 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team
Forwards: Chris Collins, Boston College; Robbie Earl, Wisconsin; Adam Burish, Wisconsin. Defensemen: Brett Motherwell, Boston College; Tom Gilbert, Wisconsin. Goaltender: Brian Elliott, Wisconsin. Most Outstanding Player: Robbie Earl, F, Wisconsin.

WCHA Teams have Won Record 36 National Championships Since 1951
Since it's founding in 1951-52, national (NCAA) championships have been become a hallmark of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and its member teams.

Over the past 54 seasons, teams representing the WCHA have earned a collegiate record 36 NCAA hockey championships, including the past five consecutive titles won by Minnesota in St. Paul in 2002 and in Buffalo in 2003, by Denver in Boston in 2004 and in Columbus in 2005, and by Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 2006. WCHA-member teams have also finished as the national runner-up on 27 other occasions, including North Dakota in 2005.

Most Outstanding Players • NCAA Championship (Frozen Four)
(Note: only winners from WCHA listed.) 1952 - Ken Kinsley, G, CC; 1953 - John Matchefts, F, Michigan; 1955 - Phil Hilton, D, CC; 1956 - Lorne Howes, G, Michigan; 1957 - Bob McCusker, F, CC; 1958 - Murray Massier, F, Denver; 1959 - Reg Morelli, F, UND; 1960 - Lou Angotti, F, MTU (tri-); 1961 - Bill Masterton, F, Denver; 1962 - Lou Angotti, F, MTU; 1963 - Al McLean, F, UND; 1964 - Bob Gray, G, Michigan; 1965 - Gary Milroy, F, MTU; 1966 - Gaye Cooley, G, Michigan State; 1968 - Gerry Powers, G, Denver; 1969 - Keith Magnuson, D, Denver; 1973 - Dean Talafous, F, UW; 1974 - Brad Shelstad, G, UM; 1975 - Jim Warden, G, MTU; 1976 - Tom Vannelli, F, UM; 1977 - Julian Baretta, G, UW; 1979 - Steve Janaszak, G, UM; 1980 - Doug Smail, F, UND; 1981 - Marc Behrend, G, UW; 1982 - Phil Sykes, F, UND; 1983 - Marc Behrend, G, UW; 1987 - Tony Hrkac, F, UND; 1990 - Chris Tancill, F, UW; 1991 - Scott Beattie, F, NMU; 1997 - Matt Henderson, F, UND; 2000 - Lee Goren, F, UND; 2002 - Grant Potulny, F, UM; 2003 - Thomas Vanek, F, UM; 2004 - Adam Berkhoel, G, Denver; 2005 - Peter Mannino, G, Denver; 2006 - Robbie Earl, F, Wisconsin.

2006 NCAA Regional Results
NCAA West Regional @ Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
March 24
No. 4 Holy Cross 4 vs No. 1 Minnesota 3 (ot)
No. 3 Michigan 1 vs No. 2 North Dakota 5
March 25
North Dakota 5 vs Holy Cross 2 (championship)

NCAA Northeast Regional @ DCU Center, Worcester, MA
March 24
No. 4 Nebraska-Omaha 2 vs No. 1 Boston University 9
No. 3 Boston College 5 vs No. 2 Miami 0
March 25
Boston College 5 vs Boston University 0 (championship)

NCAA East Regional @ Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
March 25
No. 4 New Hampshire 0 vs No. 1 Michigan State
1 No. 3 Maine 6 vs No. 2 Harvard 1
March 26
Maine 5 vs Michigan State 4 (championship)

NCAA Midwest Regional @ Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
March 25
No. 4 Bemidji State 0 vs No. 1 Wisconsin 4
No. 3 Colorado College 2 vs No. 2 Cornell 3
March 26
Wisconsin 1 vs Cornell 0 (3 ot) (championship)

Wisconsin Goalie Brian Elliott Sets WCHA Record for Consecutive Scoreless Minutes
University of Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott (Newmarket, ON) has set a new Western Collegiate Hockey Association goaltending record for consecutive scoreless minutes.

Elliott's consecutive scoreless minutes streak reached 269:51 during the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four, eclipsing the previous mark of 249:41 set by North Dakota netminder Gerald `Spike' Schultz during the 1953-54 season. Elliott surrendered a goal at 18:24 of the second period on March 17, when North Dakota's Rylan Kaip scored the game-winner in a 4-3 Sioux win over the Badgers at the 2006 Red Baron WCHA Final Five. After that, he blanked UND in the third period on March 17 (game total = 21:05), shutout Minnesota, 4-0, in the WCHA Final Five third place game on March 18 (60:00), shutout Bemidji State, 4-0, in the NCAA Midwest Regional on March 25 (60:00), shutout Cornell, 1-0, in triple overtime in the NCAA Midwest Regional championship game on March 26 (111:10), and then blanked Maine for the first 17:36 of their Frozen Four semi-final matchup on April 6. Elliott also has a UW record eight shutouts this season.

Schultz's four consecutive shutouts from Jan. 14 to Jan. 29, 1954 were both UND and national records. His scoreless streak was snapped at 249:41 when John Mayasich scored at 6:01 of the first period on Feb. 4, 1954 in a 5-3 Gopher win.

Wisconsin Finishes 2005-06 Season at No. 1 in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll North Dakota No. 3, Minnesota No. 8, Colorado College No. 11; St. Cloud State No. 15 to Give WCHA Five Teams Among Nation's Top 15

April 10, 2006/COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Wisconsin claimed the No. 1 spot on the final USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll of the 2005-06 season. Last weekend, the Badgers captured their first NCAA championship since 1990 and their first 30-win season since 1999-2000. Wisconsin defeated No. 4 University of Maine, 5-2, in the NCAA Men's Frozen Four semifinals last Thursday (April 6) before knocking off No. 2 Boston College, 2-1, in the championship game two days later.

Notes: Wisconsin spent the most time of any team in the No. 1 spot on the poll this season, holding the position for nine weeks, including seven straight weeks between Nov. 28 and Jan. 16 ... The Central Collegiate Hockey Association had eight different teams crack the poll throughout the season, leading all conferences ... Eight teams (Boston College, Colorado College, Cornell University, University of Maine, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of North Dakota and University of Wisconsin) held a spot on the poll throughout the entire season.

About the Poll: The 11th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the American Hockey Coaches Association and USA Hockey Magazine, the official publication of USA Hockey.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's Div. 1 Hockey Poll
Final • April 10, 2006 (first-place votes in parentheses)

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Rk	Team, Points (1st)	Last Week	Record	Top 15
1	Wisconsin, 510 (34)	1	30-10-3	2
2	Boston College, 475	3	26-13-3	2
3	North Dakota, 435	2	29-16-1	26
4	Maine, 401	4	28-12-2	26
5	Boston University, 363	5	26-10-4	16
6	Michigan State, 318	6	25-12-8	17
7	Cornell, 312	7	22-9-4	26
8	Minnesota, 276	8	27-9-5	26
9	Miami, 214	9	26-9-4	22
10	Harvard, 161	10	21-12-2	12
11	Colorado College, 158	11	24-16-2	26
12	Michigan, 142	12	21-15-5	26
13	New Hampshire, 135	13	20-13-7	24
14	Holy Cross, 108	14	27-10-2	2
15	St. Cloud State, 22	15	22-16-4	3

others receiving votes: Denver, 22; Nebraska Omaha, 13; Northern Michigan, 10; Dartmouth College, 4; Bemidji State, 2.

In the final USCHO.com/CSTV Poll for 2005-06, Wisconsin was No. 2, Minnesota was No. 3, North Dakota was No. 6, Colorado College was No. 12, St. Cloud State was No. 14, and Denver was No. 16.

Denver's Matt Carle Wins 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award
April 7, 2006/MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The 26th winner of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award is University of Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Executive Committee announced today at Bradley Center.

Carle, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, is the first Denver player to win college hockey's most prestigious individual honor and the fifth defenseman, the first since Minnesota's Jordan Leopold in 2002. Carle edged fellow Hobey Hat Trick finalists Chris Collins, a forward from Boston College, and Brian Elliott, a goaltender from Wisconsin.

The Hobey Baker Award, named for the legendary Princeton hockey player who died in World War I, recognizes strength of character both on and off the ice. Carle was selected from a group of 10 finalists by the votes of a 25-member selection committee, along with the results of Vote for Hobey, an online fan ballot.

Carle became the first player in WCHA history to be voted both the league's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. A first-team All-WCHA selection for the second year in a row, Carle leads the nation in assists (42) and leads all NCAA defensemen in points (53). In conference games he led the WCHA in assists and finished second in points. Carle, who was named the National Player of the Year by InsideCollegeHockey.com and USCHO.com, was a member of the 2004 and 2005 NCAA championship teams at Denver and was a co-captain of the Pioneers this year.

At the conclusion of his college season, Carle signed with the NHL's San Jose Sharks. He scored two goals in his first three NHL games.

A real estate and construction management major, Carle carries a 3.30 grade-point average and was a WCHA All-Academic Team honoree. He participates annually in the "Skate with the Pioneers" event for terminally ill children, and has volunteered at the Alaska Food Drive and a holiday children's charity drive.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is celebrating its 26th season of honoring college hockey's top player. Carle will be honored at the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Banquet on May 11 at 317 On Rice Park in St. Paul, Minn.

Carle Pulls Off Another Coup with Hobey Baker Memorial Award
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The University of Denver University was not invited to the 16-team NCAA Men's hockey tournament, which deprived junior defenseman Matt Carle of an opportunity to record a unique hat trick - three consecutive national championships. But Friday, Carle pulled off another coup, when he won the 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in college hockey this season.

"It's almost like a storybook, what's happened in my college career," Carle said. "Two national championships, and now, with all the guys on my team helping me be up here, winning the Hobey."

Inevitably, someone asked Carle to compare winning the primary college hockey individual award with the national championships, which was like tossing a letter-high changeup to one of the game's great team players.

"Anyone would trade in the Hobey Baker Award for the national championship, any day of the week." As it turns out, Carle was one of three finalists, along with Wisconsin goaltender Brian Elliott, and Boston College forward Chris Collins. By chance, one of them - Carle - won the Hobey, while the other two will play at 7 p.m. Saturday for the NCAA Frozen Four title.

Meaning no disrespect, Elliott verified Carle's sentiments, and said he wouldn't trade the chance for playing for the title for the award.

Elliott, who has five shutouts in posting an 8-1 record down the stretch and through the playoffs, will face a Boston College team that stunned red-hot North Dakota in the 6-5 first semifinal. And North Dakota was the team that beat Wisconsin 4-3 in the WCHA playoff semifinals. Collins, who had averaged 10 goals a season as a freshman, sophomore and junior, got three goals against the Sioux and now has 34 for a splendid senior season.

"I was talking up here with Brian and Chris," said Carle, about the center-ice ceremony with the three finalists awaiting the naming of the winner at Bradley Center. "I think we all agreed we were glad this was all done, because the hype gets to you. I give both of them credit because they kept their focus and are playing for the national championship."

Carle, a junior defenseman, signed a pro contract with the San Jose Sharks when Denver was eliminated from NCAA contention, and he scored two goals in his first three games.

After playing an instrumental role in Denver's 2004 and 2005 NCAA title runs, Carle, a junior from Anchorage, led the WCHA in points for much of the season, and wound up with nine goals, 42 assists, and 53 points. Carle was named WCHA Player of the Year, and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, as well as first-team All-WCHA. And to make his day complete Friday, Carle also was named to the West All-America team.

"He's richly deserving of the award," said George Gwozdecky, Carle's coach at Denver. "His contributions to our program are well-known, as are his ability to make plays. There are places where this award, and college hockey, are not that well known. Matt, being from Anchorage, makes this an awesome thing for the entire state of Alaska."

On the West All-America team, Carle was joined there by Elliott in goal, Andy Greene, a senior from Miami of Ohio on defense, and by junior forwards Scott Parse of Nebraska-Omaha and Ryan Potulny of Minnesota, and senior Brett Sterling of Colorado College. The West second team included St. Cloud State junior goalie Bobby Goepfert, defensemen Tom Gilbert, a senior at Wisconsin, and Nathan Oystrick, a senior at Northern Michigan, and forwards David Backes, a junior at Minnesota State, Joe Pavelski, a sophomore at Wisconsin, and Paul Stastny, a sophomore at Denver.

The East All-America side lists goaltender Cory Schneider, a sophomore at Boston College, defensemen Peter Harrold, a senior at BC, and Don Spang, a senior at Boston University, and three senior forwards - Collins of BC, Greg Moore of Maine, and T.J. Trevelyan of St. Lawrence. The second East team included BU junior goalie John Curry, defensemen Reid Cashman, a junior at Quinnipiac, and senior Brian Yandle of New Hampshire, and forwards Brian Boyle of BC, a junior, and seniors Michel Leveille of Maine and Mike Ouellette of Dartmouth.

In addition, Eric Leroux, a senior goaltender at Princeton, was voted the Hockey Humanitarian Award winner.

While Carle is on an airplane heading off for the resumption of his new pro career, and many of the other honorees take the ice for the NCAA final, the Boston College players all know that Bradley Center will be filled with red-clad fans, boosting the Badgers.

"We've had red-and-white fans screaming at us before," said BC star Brian Boyle, without spelling out that Boston College's biggest rival is Boston University, also red and white. "It's going to be electric. The building is going to be unbelievable to play in."

Wisconsin forward Adam Burish spoke for all the senior on both teams, when he said: "Probably a month ago, I started thinking about it. Boy, it's coming to an end. This is where I wanted to be my whole life, and it's coming to an end. I thought, boy, I can't imagine that last time, you know? It's going to be your last game, what's it going to feel like? I'm excited. I want to put that jersey on for the last time, and potentially take it off the last time, as a champion."

Badger coach Mike Eaves said: "We talke about it all the time, about enjoying the moment, being in the moment, and that's what we're trying to do right now, is enjoy this thing."

by John Gilbert

Nine WCHA Players Named to 2005-06 RBK Division 1 All-American Team
Elliott, Carle, Potulny, Sterling Named to First Team; Goepfert, Gilbert, Backes, Pavelski, Stastny Named to Second Team
April 7, 2006/MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Nine players whose seasons extended to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four in Milwaukee this weekend have been honored as RBK All-Americans for 2005-06. Leading the way is Boston College, with three East First Team Selections and one on the Second Team. The University of Wisconsin has three honorees and the University of Maine has two. The only NCAA semifinalist not represented is the University of North Dakota.

Nine Western Collegiate Hockey Association member team players were named, with Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott, Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle, Minnesota junior forward Ryan Potulny and Colorado College senior forward Brett Sterling selected to the West All-American First Team. Named to the West All-American Second Team from the WCHA were St. Cloud State junior goaltender Bobby Goepfert, Wisconsin senior defenseman Tom Gilbert, Minnesota State junior forward David Backes, Wisconsin sophomore forward Joe Pavelski and Denver sophomore forward Paul Stastny.

Noteworthy among the selections:
• The only players who repeated as First Team selections from 2005 were Denver defenseman Matt Carle and Colorado College forward Brett Sterling.
• Two honorees were Second Team choices last year: First Team defenseman Andy Greene of Miami and repeat Second Team defenseman Brian Yandle of New Hampshire.
• Half of the 24 selections are seniors; nine are juniors and three are sophomores.
• The honorees hail from 11 states and four Canadian provinces. The leading sources are Massachusetts and Minnesota, each with four native sons.
The RBK All-American ice hockey teams are sponsored by RBK HOCKEY, an international leader in hockey equipment, and chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association.

West First Team
Goalie: Brian Elliott, Jr, University of Wisconsin (Newmarket, ON)
Defense: Matt Carle, Jr, University of Denver (Anchorage, AK)
Defense: Andy Greene, Sr, Miami University (Trenton, MI)
Forward: Scott Parse, Jr, University of Nebraska-Omaha (Portage, MI)
Forward: Ryan Potulny, Jr, University of Minnesota (Grand Forks, ND)
Forward: Brett Sterling, Sr, Colorado College (Pasadena, CA)

West Second Team
Goalie: Bobby Goepfert, Jr, St. Cloud State University (Kings Park, NY)
Defense: Tom Gilbert, Sr, University of Wisconsin (Bloomington, MN)
Defense: Nathan Oystrick, Sr, Northern Michigan University (Regina, SK)
Forward: David Backes, Jr, Minnesota State University (Blaine, MN)
Forward: Joe Pavelski, So, University of Wisconsin (Plover, WI)
Forward: Paul Stastny, So, University of Denver (St. Louis, MO)

East First Team
Goalie: Cory Schneider, So, Boston College (Marblehead, MA)
Defense: Peter Harrold, Sr, Boston College (Kirtland Hills, OH)
Defense: Dan Spang, Sr, Boston University (Winchester, MA)
Forward: Chris Collins, Sr, Boston College (Fairport, NY
Forward: Greg Moore, Sr, University of Maine (Lisbon, ME)
Forward: T.J. Trevelyan, Sr, St. Lawrence University (Mississauga, ON)

East Second Team
Goalie: John Curry, Jr, Boston University (Shorewood, MN)
Defense: Reid Cashman, Jr, Quinnipiac University (Red Wing, MN)
Defense: Brian Yandle, Sr, University of New Hampshire (Milton, MA)
Forward: Brian Boyle, Jr, Boston College (Hingham, MA)
Forward: Michel Leveille, Sr, University of Maine (Levis, PQ)
Forward: Mike Ouellette, Sr, Dartmouth College (Kamloops, BC)

Six WCHA-Member Teams Sport Winning Records Overall
Six Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams had winning records overall in 2005-06 and six had won at least 21 games.
2006 NCAA champion Wisconsin led the way with a 30-10-3 overall mark and a .733 winning percentage. MacNaughton Cup-champion Minnesota (27-9-5, .720) was next, followed by NCAA Frozen Four qualifier and 2006 WCHA Final Five/Broadmoor Trophy-champion North Dakota (29-16-1, .641), Colorado College (24-16-2, .595), Denver (21-15-3, .577), and St. Cloud State (22-16-4, .571).

WCHA Owns Strong Non-Conference Record in 2005-06
Through 90 non-conference games played by WCHA-member teams in 2005-06, the league compiled a collective 50-33-7 (.594) against outside Div. 1 competition.
The best non-conference records this season were owned by Wisconsin at 10-1-0 (.909), North Dakota at 9-3-1 (.731), Colorado College at 8-3-0 (.727), Minnesota at 5-2-2 (.667), St. Cloud State at 5-1-2 (.750), and Minnesota State at 4-3-1 (.563).

2005-06 WCHA Team Leaders
All Games • Final
Scoring Offense: Minnesota, 4.12 G/GM
Scoring Defense: Wisconsin, 1.84 G/GM

Penalty Minutes: Minnesota State, 22.92 PIM/G
Power-Play: Colorado College, 22.7% (57-of-251)
Penalty-Kill: Wisconsin, 88.4% (199-of-225)
Combined Special Teams: North Dakota, 54.4% (287-of-528)
Special Teams Net: Minnesota, +27
Scoring by Periods: Minnesota (57-70-42-0 = 169)
Goals Allowed by Periods: Wisconsin (27-30-21-1 = 79)

Conference Games • Final
Scoring Offense: Minnesota, 3.82 G/GM
Scoring Defense: Wisconsin, 2.14 G/GM
Penalty Minutes: North Dakota, 25.9 PIM/G
Power-Play: Denver, 25.4% (45-of-177)
Penalty-Kill: St. Cloud State, 86.8% (112-of-129)
Combined Special Teams: Denver, 53.1% (180-of-339)
Special Teams Net: Denver, +21
Scoring by Periods: Minnesota (33-50-24-0 = 107)
Goals Allowed by Periods: Wisconsin (19-24-17-0 = 60)

2005-06 WCHA Individual Leaders
All Games • Final
Point Scoring: 63 - Ryan Potulny, F, UM (38g,25a)
Goal Scoring: 38 - Ryan Potulny, F, UM
Assist Scoring: 42 - Matt Carle, D, Denver
Power-Play Points: 34 - Marty Sertich, F, CC (5g,29a)
Power-Play Goals: 17 - Brett Sterling, F, CC; Ryan Potulny, F, UM
Shorthanded Points: 9 - Drew Stafford, F, UND (7g,2a)
Shorthanded Goals: 7 - Drew Stafford, F, UND
Game-Winning Goals: 9 - T.J. Oshie, F, UND
Defenseman Scoring: 53 - Matt Carle, D, Denver (11g,42a)
Freshman Scoring: 51 - Phil Kessel, F, UM (18g,33a)
Goals-Against Average: 1.55 - Brian Elliott, UW (2,128:08 min)
Save Percentage: .938 - Brian Elliott, UW (837 saves, 55 ga)
Winning Percentage: .814 - Brian Elliott, UW (27-5-3)

Conference Games • Final
Point Scoring: 44 - Paul Stastny, F, Denver (15g,29a)
Goal Scoring: 23 - Ryan Potulny, F, UM
Assist Scoring: 33 - Matt Carle, D, Denver
Power-Play Points: 24 - Paul Stastny, F, Denver (5g,19a)
Shorthanded Points: 4 - Chris Conner, F, MTU (3g,1a); Drew Stafford, F, UND (3g,1a)
Game-Winning Goals: 6 - Ryan Dingle, F, Denver
Defenseman Scoring: 42 - Matt Carle, D, Denver (9g,33a)
Freshman Scoring: 33 - Phil Kessel, F, UM (12g,21a)
Goals-Against Average: 1.84 - Brian Elliott, UW (1,237:18 min)
Save Percentage: .930 - Brian Elliott, UW (503 saves, 38 ga)
Winning Percentage: .786 - Kellen Briggs, UM (15-3-3); Brian Elliott, UW (15-3-3).

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