Award Winners, Captains Named at Men's Hockey Banquet
April 18, 2008 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin men's hockey held its 45th annual awards banquet Friday night at the Edgewater Hotel. The banquet honored the team's seniors and award winners from the 2007-08 season. The Badgers finished the year at 16-17-7 and came within one goal of making the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in three seasons.
Senior defenseman Davis Drewiske was honored twice, including as winner of the Spike Carlson MVP Award, which is voted on by the players. Team captain, Drewiske shared the UW lead among team defensemen with five goals, while also posting a career-high 21 points. Four of the Hudson, Wis., natives five goals came in the UW's final nine contests of the season, including two goals in the post-season. Since the end of the season, Drewiske has signed with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and is currently playing in the AHL playoffs for the Manchester Monarchs with former Badgers Jeff Likens and Joe Piskula.
Drewiske was also honored with the W Club Community Service Award. Drewiske took part in team service projects such as visiting the UW Children's Hospital and taking part in the 48-hour practice for clean water in Africa. He also played in various charity golf outings for Easter Seals, the Hudson Hockey Association and Fore a Cure for Huntington 's Disease. Finally, Drewiske skated with local youth hockey players throughout the year at Madison Ice Arena.
Senior forward Matthew Ford won the Ivan B. Williamson Scholastic Award. A consumer science major, Ford was a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team member and a member of the Academic All-Big Ten Team. The West Hills, Calif., native completed his Badger career with 21 goals and 39 points in 121 career games after tallying four goals and nine points in 2007-08.
The Otto Breitenbach Most Improved Player Award went to John Mitchell. The sophomore forward from Neenah, Wis., produced eight goals and 13 points in 40 games played on mostly the UW's third line. He scored three goals over the last nine games of the season, including one against Denver in the NCAA regional. Last year as a freshman, Mitchell tallied one goal and three points in 18 games played.
Sophomore forward Blake Geoffrion was voted the Fenton Kelsey, Jr., Most Competitive Player after a 30-point season. One of four Badgers who reached 10 goals, the Brentwood, Tenn., native finished the season as a wing on the UW's top line. His 19 points in 26 games of WCHA action shared for the team lead, while his 30-point total ranked second in all games.
The Dr. Joseph Coyne Most Consistent Player Award went to sophomore defenseman Jamie McBain. The Faribault, Minn., native led the Badgers with a plus-12 and was a plus or even in 28 of his 35 games played. McBain was named to the 2008 All-WCHA Third Team and led Badger defensemen with five goals and 24 points to share for fourth on the team in scoring.
Senior forward and defenseman Josh Engel won the Jim Santulli 7th Man Award, as voted on by Wisconsin Public Television's Badger hockey fans. A Rice Lake, Wis., native, Engel scored his the first three goals of his career and finished with eight points and 18 penalty minutes in 35 games played. After skating as a defenseman for his first three seasons, Engel began the year as a forward, before moving back to the blue line for the final eight games of the season.
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.
Also awarded during the banquet was the Mel Ross Distinguished Service Award, which went to Art Schultz, the ice caretaker at the Kohl Center.
In addition to the awards, Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves announced the team captains for the 2008-09 season. For the first time since 2003-04, Wisconsin will have more than one captain as forward Ben Street, a senior next season, and Blake Geoffrion, a junior next year, will share the captain's 'C'. There will be no assistant captains.
