University of Minnesota Athletics
Ryan Potulny Named Team MVP at Annual Awards Banquet
5/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
A junior center in 2005-06, Potulny was a First Team All-American and an All-WCHA First Team honoree after posting career-high totals in points (63), goals (38) and assists (25). Potulny ranked first in the WCHA in points, points per game (1.54), goals, goals per game (0.93), and power-play goals (17), fifth in game- winning goals (4), seventh in power-play points (17-9--26), and 12th in assists and assists per game (0.61). His points, goals, goals per game average and power-play goals all ranked first in the nation. He had 18 multi-point games and 11 multi-goal contests this past season. Potulny had at least one point in 30 of 41 games this season and a goal in 22 contests. UM was 25-4-1 when he recorded a point and 17-4-1 when scored a goal. Potulny had 10 three-point games this season, including four hat tricks. He was a three-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week this season and earned National Player of the Month honors for February with 9-2--11 in six games.
Potulny signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers last month. He was drafted by the Flyers with 87th overall pick in the third round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Potulny was also named given the team's Tom Mohr Playoff MVP Award after scoring seven goals and two assists in the postseason.
Junior forward Danny Irmen earned his second consecutive Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award after posting totals of 16-22--38 despite missing 11 games with injuries during the season. Last month, Irmen signed a prefessional contract with the Minnesota Wild. Sophomore forward Ben Gordon (International Falls, Minn.) was given the Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award. Gordon had planned to redshirt the 2005-06 season, but earned a regular spot in the lineup with an outstanding season. Gordon recorded career highs in goals (12), assists (17) and points (29).
Rounding out the awards were center Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) as the Frank Pond Rookie of the Year, senior center Gino Guyer (Coleraine, Minn.) with the Elwin “Doc” Romnes Leadership and Sportsmanship Award and the Donald M. Clark Community Service Award, and sophomore forward Mike Howe with the John Mayasich Outstanding Student-Athlete Award.
2005-06 Golden Gopher Hockey Awards
John Mariucci Most Valuable Player - Ryan Potulny
Tom Mohr Playoff Most Valuable Player Award - Ryan Potulny
Frank Pond Rookie of the Year Award - Phil Kessel
Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award - Danny Irmen
Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero Award - Ben Gordon
Elwin “Doc” Romnes Leadership and Sportsmanship Award - Gino Guyer
Donald M. Clark Community Service Award - Gino Guyer
John Mayasich Outstanding Student Athlete Award - Mike Howe
