University of Minnesota Athletics
Annual Awards Handed Out, Patterson Named MVP
4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Patterson received the John Mariucci Most Valuable Player award, the Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero award and the Tom Mohr Playoff Most Valuable Player award for his performance in the playoffs. The junior goaltender led the WCHA with a .926 save percentage and was second in the league with a 2.31 goals-against average en route to being named All-WCHA Second Team. His 67.4 winning percentage was third best in the league and his 13 WCHA wins tied him for third most in the conference. Patterson is the first Gopher to receive all three awards in the same year (the Tom Mohr Playoff Most Valuable Player award was first given out after the 1999-2000 season).
Junior forward Taylor Matson was named the Mike Crupi Most Determined Player after posting career highs in goals (10) and points (13). Matson, who missed the remainder of the 2009-10 season after suffering an ankle injury on Jan. 2, returned to play in the team's first 31 games this year before sustaining a season-ending, lower-body injury on March 4 at Bemidji State. Matson also received the Mike Crupi Most Determined Player award last season after battling back from a season-ending knee injury in 2008-09. He is the first repeat recipient of the award since goaltender Brent Solei was honored in 2007 and 2008.
Senior Mike Hoeffel received the Elwin "Doc" Romnes Leadership and Sportsmanship award. Hoeffel, who was an assistant captain this past season, led the team in goals (13) and tied for third in points (24 with Cade Fairchild and Erik Haula). Hoeffel played in 35 games this season, as he missed only the Dec. 3 game at Minnesota State with an illness. Hoeffel ended his Minnesota career with 48 goals and 39 assists in 149 games.
Freshman forward Nick Bjugstad earned the Frank Pond Rookie of the Year award after posting eight goals and 12 assists in 29 games. Bjugstad was second on the team in freshman scoring (Haula led with 24 points), but recorded 16 points (six goals and 10 assists) in the team's final 16 games. Bjugstad missed five games early in the season with mononucleosis and both Mariucci Classic games as he was helping the United States earn a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship.
Junior Nick Larson earned the John Mayasich Outstanding Student-Athlete award. Larson is a business marketing education major and earned a 4.00 during the fall semester. On the ice, he played in 30 games and had five goals and six assists.
Sophomore Seth Helgeson received the Donald M. Clark Community Service Award for the second straight year. Helgeson amassed the most hours of community service of any Minnesota player during the past season to earn the award. Helgeson was one of only two players to play in all 36 games (Jacob Cepis was the other) and had one goal and a career-high six assists.
