Ortmeyer Picks Up Team MVP Award at Dekers Banquet

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior forward Jed Ortmeyer (Omaha, Neb.) received the Hal Downes Trophy, awarded annually to the Wolverines' most valuable player, for the second straight year as the 2002-03 ice hockey team was honored today (Saturday, April 19) at the annual Dekers Blue Line Club Hockey Awards Banquet, held at the Ypsilanti Marriott.

Ortmeyer, who has served as the team's captain for the last two campaigns, is the eighth player in U-M ice hockey history to receive MVP honors twice, and the seventh to receive the award in back-to-back seasons after sharing the honor with Josh Blackburn and Mike Cammalleri a year ago. Named the CCHA's Best Defensive Forward and the MVP of the CCHA Super Six, Ortmeyer posted a career-high 18 goals and tallied 34 points to rank third on the team in scoring.

Junior defenseman Andy Burnes (Battle Creek, Mich.) was awarded the Vic Heyliger Trophy as the team's outstanding defenseman for the second straight year after skating in 36 of Michigan's 43 games and tying a career high with eight points on a goal and a career-best seven assists. Burnes served as an assistant captain for the 2002-03 campaign and was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team.

The Doc Losh Trophy, given to the team's scoring leader, went to freshman forward Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.), who amassed a team-high 45 points on a team-best 26 goals and 19 assists. Tambellini, the CCHA Rookie of the Year and All-CCHA second team selection, is the first freshman to win the award since Mike Comrie in 1998-99, and he scored the most goals by a U-M rookie since Chris Seychel netted 26 in the 1982-83 campaign. A member of the Bauer/CCHA All-Rookie team, Tambellini tied for the 11th-highest point total by a freshman in U-M history, recording the most points by a first-year player since 1997-98, when Mark Kosick totaled 46. Tambellini finished the 2002-03 campaign ranked fifth nationally for points per game by a rookie (1.05) and tied for third among the nation's rookie goal scorers.

Tambellini was also the night's only double award winner, as he received the Dekers Club Award, voted on by the members of the Dekers Blue Line Club and given annually to the team's most colorful rookie.

Sophomore forward David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) received the Alton D. Simms Trophy as the Wolverines' most improved player after recording a career-high 31 points on 14 goals and 17 assists to rank fifth on the team in scoring. Moss, who saw action in every game for the second straight season, recorded 18 points more than he did as a freshman and established career marks in goals and assists.

For the first time in the history of the award, the Howard Colby Award, presented to the player who exhibits the best sportsmanship, was awarded to a pair of Wolverines -- senior forward John Shouneyia (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and sophomore forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.). Shouneyia, an assistant captain, led the team with 28 assists while ranking second in scoring with 35 points, and he finished his career in 11th place on U-M's career assists chart, totaling 112 helpers. Helminen had a breakout year in 2002-03, recording a career-high 33 points on 17 goals and 16 assists to rank fourth on the team in points. Helminen, who was named to the CCHA Super Six All-Tournament team, owned the third-largest point differential from last season, recording 15 points more than he did in his freshman campaign.

Senior forward Mark Mink (Livonia, Mich.) received the Carl Isaacson Award, which is given to the player with the team's highest grade-point average. Mink, a general studies major, tallied seven goals and a career-high 14 assists for 21 points while skating in all 43 games. Mink, who carries a grade-point average of over 3.00, earned the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award and special mention honors on the CCHA All-Academic team.

Senior defenseman Mike Roemensky (White Lake, Mich.) took home the Joseph E. Barss Award, which is chosen by the coaching staff and presented to the player who best exemplifies the true team player. Roemensky, who saw action in every game, recorded nine points on two goals and seven assists to more than quadruple his totals from a year ago and mark the second-highest point total of his career. He also posted a +11 rating to rank fourth among U-M's rear guards.

Michigan, the tournament champion of the CCHA, finished the 2002-03 season with a 30-10-3 record -- the first 30-win season since 1997-98 -- and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the third straight year and the for the 22nd time in school history, an NCAA record. The Wolverines, who have appeared in the last 13 NCAA Tournaments, the nation's longest active streak, are graduating five seniors -- Mink, Ortmeyer, Roemensky, Shouneyia and J.J. Swistak (West Bloomfield, Mich.).

Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423