March 13, 2008

FAIRBANKS, AK - One day after being named to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's all-conference first team, junior defenseman Tyler Eckford was announced as a top three finalist for the league's Best Offensive Defenseman award. The conference announced the top three finalists for all six major individual awards that will be presented on Thursday, March 20 at historic Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit.

Eckford, Miami junior Alec Martinez and sophomore Eddie Del Grosso of Nebraska-Omaha are the finalists for Best Offensive Defenseman. A New Jersey draft pick, Eckford led defensemen with 18 assists and 23 points. Martinez, who was drafted by the L.A. Kings, finished with 17 points and a +15 rating. Del Grosso wound up second in defensemen scoring with 21 points, which included three power-play goals and a pair of game-winning goals.

Since joining the CCHA during the 1995-96 season, Alaska has seen only one player and one coach earn two of the league's six major individual awards. Bobby Andrews (1998-2002) was named the Best Defensive Forward and Guy Gadowsky (1999-2003) was named the Coach of the Year both during the 2001-02 season, the first season in which the Nanooks advanced to Joe Louis Arena and the quarterfinal round of the CCHA tournament. However, during the 2003-04 season, former Alaska forward Aaron Voros also garnered the Terry Flanagan Memorial Award after recovering from a bone tumor in his leg.

The top three finalists for the remaining five awards are:

Best Defensive Defenseman - JR, Alec Martinez, Miami; JR, Mark Mitera, Michigan; SR, Daniel Vukovic, Michigan State.

Best Defensive Forward - JR, Justin Mercier, Miami; SR, Kevin Porter, Michigan; JR, Justin Abdelkader, Michigan State.

Rookie of the Year - FR, Carter Camper, Miami; FR, Max Pacioretty, Michigan; FR, Jeff Petry, Michigan State.

RBC Financial Group Player of the Year - SR, Ryan Jones, Miami; SR, Kevin Porter, Michigan; JR, Jeff Lerg, Michigan State.

Coach of the Year - Bob Daniels, Ferris State; Enrico Blasi, Miami; Red Berenson, Michigan.

The CCHA Awards kick off CCHA Championship Weekend on Thursday, March 20. The banquet, an Academy Awards-style event with music videos, video highlights and special awards presentations, is held at historic Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit, across from Comerica Park. The banquet begins with a social hour presented by the RBC Financial Group at 6:30 p.m. during which a cash bar will be available and light hors d'oeuvres will be served. The Awards Program will be at 7:30 p.m. and will last approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Banquet tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the CCHA at (248) 888-0600 or at the door the day of the event.