3/7/91 JIM DOWD NAMED CCHA PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR, JACKSON, WISEMAN HONORED Lake Superior State University senior center Jim Dowd has been named CCHA Player-of-the-Year for the 1990-91 season. LSSU Head Coach Jeff Jackson was selected Coach-of-the-Year, and University of Michigan freshman center Brian Wiseman was named Rookie-of-the-Year. The award recipients were selected by a vote of the league coaches. Jim Dowd, the leading scorer in the CCHA (19-49-68), was the only unanimous selection to the All-CCHA First Team. The 1987 draft pick of the New Jersey Devils, has eight power play goals, three shorthanded markers, one hat trick, five game-winners and a +/- rating of +23. He becomes the third Laker in the last four seasons to be selected CCHA Player-of-the-Year (Bruce Hoffort - '88-89 and Mark Vermette - '87-88). Jeff Jackson becomes the first CCHA coach selected Coach-of-the-Year in his initial season as a head coach in the league. Jackson has led the Lakers to a 33-3-4 mark prior to this weekend's CCHA Championships. Lake Superior State University led the CCHA in goals for (181) and goals allowed (77), while setting the CCHA record for points in a season (56) by one team. Brian Wiseman is the second straight Wolverine to be honored as CCHA Rookie-of- the-Year. Wiseman led all freshmen in scoring with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points, while finishing third on the Michigan squad in scoring. Wiseman is the fourth Wolverine to be selected CCHA Rookie-of-the-Year joining, Jon Elliot ('81-82), Chris Seychel ('82-83) and David Roberts ('89-90). PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR Jim Dowd, Lake Superior (3) 50 COACH-OF-THE-YEAR Jeff Jackson, Lake Superior (4) 54 ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR Brian Wiseman, Michigan (2) 42 Vote Totals (1st-10; 2nd-5; 3rd-2): Player-Of-The-Year: Denny Felsner, MICH, (2)-42; Darrin Madeley, LSSU, (2)-20; Doug Weight, LSSU, (1)-16; Rod Taylor, FSU (1)-10; David Roberts, MICH, 9; John dePourcq, FSU, 2; Mike Eastwood, WMU, 2; Jason Woolley, MSU, 2. Coach-of-the-Year: Bob Mancini, FSU, (2)-42; Bill Wilkinson, WMU, (2)-35; Red Berenson, MICH, (1)-14; Larry Pedrie, UIC, 8. Rookie-of-the-Year: Pat Mazzoli, FSU, (2)-36; Craig Brown, WMU, (2)-31; Aaron Ward, MICH, (2)-29; Steve Shields, MICH, (1)-10; Mike Dennis, UIC, 5. CCHA HONORS BEST OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE DEFENSEMEN, BEST DEFENSIVE FORWARD Three "bests" awards were presented by the CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) at its Seventh Annual Awards Banquet held at the Riverview Ballroom in Cobo Center on March 7, 1991. The recipients were selected by a vote of league coaches. Best Offensive Defenseman Jason Woolley MSU Best Defensive Defenseman Karl Johnston LSSU Best Defensive Forward Jeff Napierala LSSU Michigan State University's Jason Woolley was selected as the CCHA's Best Offensive Defenseman after leading all NCAA blueliners in scoring during the regular season with 15 goals and 42 assists for 57 points. A 1989 draft pick of Washington, Woolley had 10 power play goals and three game-winners while leading the Spartans in scoring for the regular season. Lake Superior State University defenseman Karl Johnston becomes the second straight Laker blueliner to be selected as the CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman. This season he helped LSSU allow the fewest goals in league games (77 - 2.41 per game). Johnston also aided the Laker offense with 43 points on 12 goals and 31 assists. He tied with teammate Mark Astley for the CCHA lead in +/- with a +44. Johnston had five power play goals and two game-winners. The Lakers' Jeff Napierala was recognized with the Best Defensive Forward award. Napierala also played a major part in LSSU stingy defense while contributing offensively with 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points. Napierala finished third in the CCHA with 16 power play goals. He also had a +/- rating of +14 in addition to scoring a shorthanded goal and one hat trick. VOTE TOTALS: (1st Place - 10; 2nd Place - 5; 3rd Place - 2) Best Offensive Defenseman: Jason Woolley, MSU, (7)-72; Mark Astley, LSSU (1)-36; Patrick Neaton, MICH, (1)-36; Bob Nardella, FSU, 5; Chris Clarke, WMU, 2; Ken Klee, BGSU, 2. Best Defensive Defenseman: Karl Johnston, LSSU, (6)-70; David Harlock, MICH, (2)-44; Joby Messier, MSU, (1)-28; Ken Klee, BGSU, 11. Best Defensive Forward: Jeff Napierala, LSSU, (3)-47; Don Stone, MICH, (1)-33; John dePourcq, FSU, (3)-32; Kerry Russell, MSU, (2)-32; Pat Ferschweiler, WMU, 7; Rob Vanderydt, Miami, 2. FELSNER WINS CCHA SCORING TITLE University of Michigan junior right wing Denny Felsner garnered the CCHA scoring title for the first time in his collegiate career. This year he led the CCHA in goals (32) and points (58), while tallying 15 power play goals, one shorthanded, two hat tricks and two game-winners. Last year, Felsner had 29 points (19-10) in just 24 league games with six power play goals. Finishing in a tie for second was Lake Superior sophomore center Doug Weight (19-34-53) and Bowling Green sophomore center Brett Harkins (19-34-53). LSSU NETMINDER WINS BEST GOALIE AWARD Laker goaltender Darrin Madeley won the best goalie award for compiling the lowest goals against average (in league play) with at least 1,000 minutes played. Madeley went 20-1-3 with a 2.28 goals against average and a .908 save percentage in leading LSSU to 56 points (most ever by a CCHA team) and the 1990-91 CCHA regular season title. Madeley's .896 winning percentage is the highest ever by a CCHA goalie in league play (previous was .881 by Wally Charko of BGSU in '78-79 with a 18-2-1 mark). His 2.28 gaa ranks fifth on the CCHA all-time single season charts. Michigan's Steve Shields finished second with a 2.95 gaa in 26 games. Shields compiled a 19-3-3 league mark as the Wolverines finished in second place.