The Merrimack hockey banquet was held this evening at DiBurro's
Restaurant in Bradford, MA.
 
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: JR forward Matt Adams.  Had 14-19--33 in 37 GP,
 third on team and a increase of 18 points over last year's totals.  Adams
 had had only 12 goals in 62 career games before this season.  Perhaps the
 quickest player on the team, this year Matt was finally able to skate
 with the puck effectively and confidently.
 
FRANCIS "BUZZ" MILLER UNSUNG HERO AWARD: JR F/D Chris Ross.  Had 5-4--9
 in 34 GP, but more importantly, played an big role as the swingman.
 Ross would often dress as a forward and shift to defense when needed.
 
FANS AWARD: SR forward Rob Atkinson.  Given to the most exciting Warrior in
 home games.  Atkinson led the team in scoring with 17-24--41 in 37
 GP, his best season ever.  He represented Merrimack at the Shrine
 East-West College Hockey Classic Saturday night in Orono, ME.
 
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: FR goalie Martin Legault.  Legault had the finest
 season of any Warrior netminder since the team joined Hockey East,
 posting a GAA of 3.77 and a save% of .892.  14 times he allowed 3
 goals or less.  He was also the workhorse, playing in 34 games and
 logging 1942 minutes.
 
COACHES AWARD: SR forward Quentin Fendelet and SR goalie Matt Poska.
 Fendelet had 1-5--6 in 37 games, and Poska only saw 26 minutes of
 action over 4 games.  Ron Anderson cited these outgoing players not
 for their statistics, but for their overall contribution to the team.
 Poska transferred in from Holy Cross a couple of years ago and only
 played in 32 minutes in his career, never getting a start, but his
 positive attitude and willingness to work in practice despite not
 having much of a chance to play earned him the award.  Anderson relayed
 the story of when Poska finally got into game action late last season
 at BU, when Anderson gave Poska the nod, and in his excitement to get
 out on the ice, Poska tripped over the boards and landed flat on his
 face. :-)
 
 Fendelet's status was uncertain entering the season, having played only
 sparingly over his first three years, but he ended up one of only 9 players
 to play every game and played well in a mostly defensive role.  Anderson
 pointed out that he was the team's most consistent scorer over his
 career, scoring one goal in each season. :-)  Fendelet also showed
 an ability and willingness to excel in the classroom, earning the
 highest GPA in Hockey East each of the last two seasons.
 
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: SR forward Cooper Naylor.  Naylor had 12-26--38
 in 37 GP, second highest totals on the team.  His goal and point
 totals this season eclipsed his totals through three years at
 Merrimack.  Naylor logged "Ray Bourque-like ice time", playing
 extensively on both the power play and penalty kill, and he was
 considered one of the top defensive forwards in Hockey East.
 
As is the custom, chairs with the school insignia were presented to
each of the five seniors: Rob Atkinson, Quentin Fendelet, Jim Gibson,
Cooper Naylor, and Matt Poska.
 
Captains for next season were announced.  Both will be seniors and
both are defensemen.  Mark Cornforth returns for his second season as
co-captain, and he will be joined by Dan Hodge.  Together, they
presented a Merrimack jersey to new school President Richard
Santagati, with his name on the back and number 1.
 
Talking to Anderson afterwards, he seems very excited about the team's
prospects for the next few years.  A resounding theme was to make it
to the Garden next season, before the old building is torn down.  He
said that he can't wait for next season to begin, and I don't recall
him saying that for a while.
---                                                                 ---
Mike Machnik                                          [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                  *HMM* 11/13/93
Opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the poster.