March 24, 2009
Johnson First Nanook To Get CCHA's Top Honor
CHN Staff Report
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Senior goalie Chad Johnson became the first Alaska Nanook to be named the CCHA Player of the Year. Nine individual awards were handed out, including six determined by a vote of the league’s 12 coaches.
Johnson was second in the nation and first in the CCHA in goals-against average (1.70) and save percentage (.937). He was named First Team All-Conference and was also the overall Perani Cup champion, being named a game star in 15 of 28 league contests.
Michigan forward David Wohlberg became the second straight Wolverine (Max Pacioretty in 2008) to be honored as the CCHA Rookie of the Year. In conference scoring, Wohlberg finished tied for first among rookies with 23 points in 27 games. He was also tied atop the freshmen charts in goals, and game-winning goals and finished tied for third in assists.
Alaska’s Dallas Ferguson was recognized as the CCHA Coach of the Year after leading the Nanooks to a fourth-place finish, tied for best in school history, and a first-round playoff bye. The first-year Nanook coach beat all expectations, predicted to finish tied for 11th in the preseason CCHA coaches poll, and led the country in scoring defense allowing only 1.74 goals a game. He is the third first-year coach to capture the award in the past 34 years.
Notre Dame senior goaltender Jordan Pearce was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Pearce, a pre-med and anthropology major, led the CCHA in victories and shutouts and has a 3.81 grade-point average.
The ninth annual Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award was presented to two outstanding individuals: Michigan State senior goaltender Jeff Lerg and Nebraska-Omaha senior goaltender Jerad Kaufmann. Lerg has been involved in a multitude of community service activities including Big Brother/Big Sisters, Spartan Buddies, Children’s Miracle Network and the “Shoot for a Cure” promotion that raised more than $5,000 for cancer research. Kaufmann, who is also a part of the Big Brothers program, created and orchestrated “Military Appreciation Night” in Omaha to raise money for the Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation. The event has collected over $25,000 in honor of his friend who was killed while serving in the military. The Ilitch Humanitarian Award is given to the league’s top citizen based on his contributions off the ice, as well as on, to his team, his program, his school and his community.
Notre Dame senior forward Erik Condra was presented with the Terry Flanagan Memorial Award in recognition of his perseverance, dedication and courage while overcoming severe adversity. Condra worked all summer to rehab from ACL and MCL injuries and less than seven months after the injury, he returned to the lineup as team captain.
Tim Miller of Michigan was honored as the Best Defensive Forward. The senior, who never missed a regular-season game in his college career, scored 13 points in 28 conference games and finished +10. The Wolverines finished tied for first in team defense and second in penalty-killing efficiency. Northern Michigan sophomore Erik Gustafsson picked up the Best Offensive Defenseman Award after leading CCHA blueliners with 22 assists and 25 points in 28 conference games and finishing tied for 10th in the nation. Notre Dame junior Kyle Lawson earned Best Defensive Defenseman honors tallying 16 points and fi nishing with a +7 rating for the Irish.
