Berenson, Porter and Pacioretty Claim Top CCHA Awards
3/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- Head coach Red Berenson, senior forward Kevin Porter(Northville, Mich.), and freshman forward Max Pacioretty(New Canaan, Conn.) of the No. 1-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team captured the accolades for CCHA Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year, respectively, Thursday (March 20). The awards were announced and presented at the CCHA Awards Show presented by RBC Financial Group at the Fox Theatre.
Despite being in his 24th season as the leader of the Maize and Blue, this is just the second time Berenson has been voted the CCHA Coach of the Year. The other instance came in 1994, when U-M went 24-5-1 to collect the CCHA regular-season title. This season Berenson acquired his 10th CCHA regular-season championship, leading the Wolverines to a 20-4-4 league record. Berenson beat out finalists Bob Daniels of Ferris State and Enrico Blasi of Miami to receive the honor.
Berenson has guided U-M to a 29-5-4 record overall this season, and he is 640-297-68 all-time with the Wolverines, putting him in eighth place on college hockey's wins list. On Feb. 22, Berenson coached in his 1,000th game for U-M, facing in-state foe Michigan State in East Lansing.
Porter led the league in scoring this season, posting a 22-20-42 line in 28 conference contests. The captain had previously been announced a unanimous choice for the All-CCHA first team, and he was CCHA Player of the Month for November and February. He garnered 12 multi-point games in conference play and scored a point in 24 of 28 contests. Porter is the first Wolverine to be voted CCHA Player of the Year since 1997, when Brendan Morrison collected the honor for the second consecutive season. David Oliver also won the award in 1994. The other finalists this year were Miami forward Ryan Jones and Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg.
Overall, Porter boasts a 28-28-56 line, giving him a four-point advantage in the national scoring race. Michigan is also 19-1-2 when Porter scores a goal. The seniorhas an80-96-176 line in his tenure at U-M, and he has earned a top 25 spot in Michigan's record book for career goals, assists, and points by a forward.
Pacioretty had already received a spot on the CCHA All-Rookie team, as he led all freshmen with a 12-16-28 line in 25 conference games. He was also the CCHA Rookie of the Month for November, after he tallied a point in nine consecutive contests, earning a 3-9-12 line during the span. Pacioretty also had five multi-point games in CCHA play. Nine other U-M freshmen have collected CCHA Rookie of the Year recognition, most recently T.J. Hensick in 2004. The other finalists for Rookie of the Year were Miami forward Carter Camper and Michigan State defenseman Jeff Petry.
Pacioretty has amassed 34 points (14-20-34) overall, putting him in the fourth slot for points per game (1.03) among the nation's freshman class.
This Friday (March 21) the Wolverines will travel to Joe Louis Arena to face the Northern Michigan Wildcats in the CCHA semifinals. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:05 p.m. and will be televised by FSN Detroit.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
