Men's Hockey Holds Awards Baquet; Captains Named
April 13, 2007 | Men's Hockey
MADISON, Wis. ' Wisconsin men's hockey held its 44th annual awards banquet Friday night at the Edgewater Hotel. The banquet honored the team's seniors and award winners from the 2006-07 season. The Badgers finished the season at 19-18-4, taking third place at the 2007 WCHA Final Five.
Senior forward Jake Dowell was awarded the Spike Carlson MVP Award. Dowell paced the team and ranked fifth in the WCHA with 19 goals, while his eight power-play tallies also led the Badgers. The Eau Claire, Wis., native also paced the team with three game-winning goals and one short-handed tally. Dowell, team assistant captain this past season, finished second on the team with 25 points and completed his UW career with 42 goals and 90 points. A WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, Dowell made the 2006 Badger Hockey Showdown and 2007 WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Teams.
Earning the team's Ivan B. Williamson Scholastic Award was senior goaltender Brian Elliott. The marketing major was the UW Athletic Board Scholar in 2005-06 as the player with the team's highest grade-point average. A three-time WCHA All-Academic Team member, the Newmarket, Ontario native completed his playing career at the top of six major UW goaltending categories, including career shutouts (16), single-season shutouts (8), career goals-against average (1.78), single-season goals-against average (1.55), career save percentage (.931) and single-season save percentage (.938). He has a share of the WCHA career shutout record, while ranking fourth in NCAA history in career save percentage and sixth in career goals-against average.
Winner of this year's Otto Breitenbach Most Improved Player is sophomore goaltender Shane Connelly. The Cheltenhalm, Pa., native went 4-1-2 with a 1.11 goals-against average, .952 save percentage and three shutouts in seven appeareances. In five starts during the season, Connelly posted three shutouts and went 3-0-2, while he is 5-0-2 in his last seven starts. After beginning his career 0-4-0, Connelly has gone 7-2-2 in his last 11 decisions. As a rookie in 2005-06, Connelly went 3-5-0 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .885 save percentage and one shutout in nine appearances.
Voted the team's Fenton Kelsey, Jr., Most Competitve Player winner was senior defenseman Jeff Likens. The Barrington, Ill., native collected a goal and six points, to go along with 42 penalty minutes and a team-leading plus-14 rating in 40 games played. Fiercely competitive, the team assistant captain joins the likes of Adam Burish, Andy Wheeler, Alex Brooks, Rob Andringa, Mike Richter, Tony Granato and Gary Suter as winner of this award.
The Dr. Joseph Coyne Most Consistent Player was senior defenseman Matt Olinger. Engaged to be married in May, the stay-at-home defenseman was solid all season long. Described by head coach Mike Eaves midway through the season as the team's most consistent performer during the first half, the Madison, Wis., native posted three assists and 44 penalty minutes while becoming one of five players to skate in all 41 of the team's contests during the campaign. Olinger skated in 65 consecutive games and 84 of the UW 's last 85 games to end his career. Olinger is also a two-time member of the WCHA All-Academic Team.
Winner of the W Club Community Service Award was senior captain Andrew Joudrey. One of five finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award give to college hockey's 'finest citizen,' the Bedford, Nova Scotia native participated in team visits to UW Children's Hospital and helped coaching youth hockey teams in the area. He is a two-year participant in the 48-hour practice and a participant in the 'Fore a Cure' golf outing. He also spent 30 hours at the Boys and Girls Club during the fall semester and was the winner of the team's 2006 W Club Community Service Award.
Finally, senior forward Andy Brandt won the Jim Santulli 7th Man Award, as voted on by Wisconsin Public Television's Badger hockey fans. Brandt posted three goals and six points in 40 games played, while adding 22 penalty minutes. The Wausau, Wis., native scored once on the power play and once short-handed to win a playoff game at Denver. Viewers cast their votes for the UW men's hockey player who gives his all on the ice and best represents the Badger trademarks of team spirit and good sportsmanship.
In addition to the honoring of seniors and the announcement of the team's awards, head coach Mike Eaves announced the team captains for 2007-08. Taking over as team captain is junior defenseman Davis Drewiske. He will be assisted by junior defenseman Kyle Klubertanz and sophomore forward Ben Street.
