University of Minnesota Athletics
Alex Goligoski Named First Team All-College Hockey News
3/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Junior defenseman Alex Goligoski (Grand Rapids, Minn.) has been named to the First Team All-College Hockey News. Also earning CHN honors were center Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) and defenseman Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn.) on the All-CHN Rookie Team.
Last week, Goligoski became Minnesota’s first WCHA Defensive Player of the Year since Jordan Leopold won the award in 2000-01 and 2001-02. Goligoski also earned All-WCHA First Team honors a season after being named to the All-WCHA Second Team and two years removed from his appearance on the WCHA All-Rookie Team. An assistant captain, Goligoski owns totals of 9-28--37 to rank first in the WCHA in defenseman points and points per game (0.88). His 37 points currently rank second in the nation among blueliners. Goligoski owns a team fourth-best nine multi-point games and ranks second on the team with a plus/minus rating of +22. He has a point in 24 of 42 games this season and has four three-point games on the year. A two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week this season, Goligoski became the 48th Golden Gopher to earn All-WCHA First Team honors and the first defenseman since Keith Ballard in 2003-04.
Okposo earned All-WCHA Second Team and WCHA All-Rookie Team honors with totals of 19-20--39 to rank secondon the team in scoring. Okposo leads the team in goals and ranks fourth in the WCHA in freshman scoring. The native of St. Paul has eight multi-point games and a team-best three multi-goal games on the season. Okposo is looking to become the first freshman lead the Golden Gophers in scoring since Thomas Vanek led Minnesota with 31-31--62 in 2002-03. Vanek was also the last freshman to lead the team in goals in 2002-03. The No. 5 overall draft pick of the New York Islanders at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Okposo has a point in 28 of 38 games this season, a goal in 15 contests and an assist in 15 contests.
Johnson was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team after leading the conference’s rookie blueliners in scoring with totals of 4-19--23 in 39 games. Johnson ranks third among Minnesota defenseman and seventh on the team in scoring. Owning four multi-point games this season, Johnson leads the team in shots and blocked shots. The top overall draft pick of the St. Louis Blues at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson owns a plus/minus rating of +8 and has three assists on game-winning goals this season.
Below is a look at the 2006-07 All-College Hockey News Awards.
First Team All-CHN
F - T.J. Hensick, Michigan, Sr.
F - Ryan Duncan, North Dakota, So.
F - Nathan Davis, Miami, Jr.
D - Alex Goligoski, Minnesota, Jr.
D - Jack Johnson, Michigan, So.
G - David Brown, North Dakota, Sr.
Second Team All-CHN
F - Scott Parse, Nebraska-Omaha, Sr.
F - Brian Boyle, Boston College, Sr.
F - David Jones, Dartmouth, Jr.
D - Matt Gilroy, Boston University, So.
D - Drew Bagnall, St. Lawrence, Sr.
G - Bobby Goepfert, St. Cloud State. Sr.
G - John Curry, Boston University, Sr.
Honorable Mention: Matt Hunwick (Michigan), Trevor Smith (New Hamprhie), Kevin Porter (Michigan), Cory Schneider (Boston College), Kevin Regan (New Hampshire), Mike Santorelli (Northern Michigan), Jonathan Toews (North Dakota), Mark Matheson (UMass), Reid Cashman (Quinnipiac), Ryan Jones (Miami), Nathan Gerbe (Boston College)
All-CHN Rookie Team
F - Kyle Okposo, Minnesota
F - Andreas Nödl, St. Cloud State
F - Teddy Purcell, Maine
D - Erik Johnson, Minnesota
D - Kyle Lawson, Notre Dame
G - Brad Thiessen, Northeastern
Honorable Mention: Mark Letestu (Western Michigan), Brandon Wong (Quinnipiac), Alex Petizian (St. Lawrence), Ryan Thang (Notre Dame), Kevin Deeth (Notre Dame), Mike McKenzie (St. Lawrence), Chay Genoway (North Dakota)
Player of the Year - T.J. Hensick, F, Michigan
Rookie of the Year - Andreas Nödl, F, St. Cloud State
Coach of the Year - Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame
