March 16, 2006
E-MAIL 
Carle Makes WCHA History
CHN Staff Report
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Denver junior Matt Carle became the first player in WCHA history to earn both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
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 Minnesota. Kessel was highly touted coming into the season, and is projected by many to be the No. 1 overall pick in next June's NHL Draft. Kessel 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.
The WCHA Coach of the Year award was shared by Minnesota's Don Lucia and St. Cloud State's Bob Motzko, who previously worked on the same staff.
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 Division I hockey though March 9 with 11 goals, 39 assists and 50 points, an average of 1.39 points per game. Carle, who also led his team in blocked shots, was named named to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the second time, as well.
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.
Awards
Player of the Year
Matt Carle, Jr., D, Denver
Student-Athlete of the Year
Ted O'Leary, Sr., F, Denver
Defensive Player of the Year
Matt Carle, Jr., D, Denver
Rookie of the Year
Phil Kessel, Fr., F, Minnesota
Coach of the Year
Don Lucia, Minnesota
Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State
Scoring Champion
Paul Stastny, So., F, Denver
Goaltending Champion
Brian Elliott, Jr., Wisconsin
All-WCHA First Team
F Ryan Potulny, Jr., Minnesota
F Brett Sterling, Sr., Colorado College
F Paul Stastny, So., Denver
D Matt Carle, So., Denver
D Tom Gilbert, Sr., Wisconsin
G Bobby Goepfert, Jr., St. Cloud State
All-WCHA Second Team
F Joe Pavelski, So., Wisconsin
F Marty Sertich, Sr., Colorado College
F David Backes, Jr., Minnesota State
D Alex Goligoski, So., Minnesota
D Brian Salcido, Jr., Colorado College
G Brian Elliott, Jr., Wisconsin
All-WCHA Third Team
F Drew Stafford, Jr., North Dakota
F Ryan Dingle, So., Denver
F Danny Irmen, Jr., Minnesota
D Chris Harrington, Sr., Minnesota
D Matt Smaby, Jr., North Dakota
G Jordan Parise, Jr., North Dakota
All-WCHA Rookie Team
F Phil Kessel, Minnesota
F T.J. Oshie, North Dakota
F Mason Raymond, Minnesota-Duluth
D Chris Butler, Denver
D Brian Lee, North Dakota
G Dan Tormey, Minnesota State
