Thursday, March 3, 2006

2005-06 Men's Hockey Major Awards Announced

AUS

Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2005-06 Men's Hockey Major Award Winners as selected by the conference's head coaches.

Acadia's Kevin Baker, the Atlantic conference scoring leader, is the 2005-06 Atlantic University Sport Most Valuable Player. Baker, a former Los Angeles Kings draft pick who is in his final year of eligibility, led the conference in points with 47 and goals with 24. His 47 points tied for the most in the CIS, while his 24 goals matched his 2004-05 total and were second only to Guelph Gryphons forward Jesse Pyatt. Included in his 24 goals were nine power-play markers, three game-winners and two hat tricks. Over the past two season's, no player in the CIS has scored more goals than Baker (48), who was also a first team selection last season as well as a second team CIS all-Canadian. The last Axemen player to be named the Atlantic conference MVP was Duane Dennis in 1993-94. Kevin, a native of Kingston, ON, will represent the AUHC as a nominee for the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the CIS Player of the Year.

The 2005-06 recipient of the A.J. MacAdam Memorial Trophy as the Rookie of the Year is UNB's Darryl Boyce (Summerside, PE). Boyce, a forward who played his junior hockey with the OHL's Toronto St. Michael's Majors, led the all league rookies in scoring this season with 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 28 games, including two power-play markers, four game-winning goals and a hat trick. Darryl's four game-winners were the most in the conference and his 32 points tied him for 9th in scoring. This is the third consecutive season a UNB player has been selected as the Atlantic conference Rookie of the Year. Defenceman Kevin Young won the award in 2003-04 (he was also selected as the CIS Rookie of the Year) and Rob Hennigar was chosen in 2004-05.

The first recipient of the Bob Boucher Memorial Coach of the Year Award is Acadia Axemen head coach Darren Burns. Burns, the reigning CIS Coach of the Year in his fifth season behind the Acadia bench, has continued to improve the team's record each season since taking over as head coach. This season, he guided the #4-ranked Axemen to an impressive 19-8-1 record and another first place finish, including a 13-1-0 record on home ice. A native of Brockville, ON, Burns played for the Axemen from 1990-95 and was a member of the 1992-93 National Championship winning squad. Darren also won a second CIS Championship as an assistant with the Axemen in 1995-96. Burns resides in Port Williams, NS, with his wife Lana and son Brady.

Darren Burns' university coaching record (regular season):

Note: The AUHC's Coach of the Year Award was renamed last year in honour of the late Bob Boucher, a former head coach with the Saint Mary's Huskies, who passed away in December of 2004. He posted a 231-33-4 record over his 13 seasons and led the Huskies to four straight national championship games, beginning in 1970.

Forward Brad Self of the Saint Mary's Huskies has been selected as the conference's first recipient of the Don Wells Most Sportsmanlike Player Award. Self, a 4th year forward from Peterborough, ON, finished fifth in league scoring with 36 points and only picked of nine minor penalties this season. As one of the league's most talented players, Self often receives a large amount of attention from the opposition yet remains very disciplined. Brad's integrity and desire to win combined with his respect for his teammates and his opponents have been noticeable throughout the season.

Note: The Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year Award was renamed last year in honour of Mr. Don Wells, a former Athletic Director and long-time head coach of the Acadia men's hockey program.

David Chant of the Saint Mary's Huskies has been chosen as the 2005-06 recipient of the Godfrey Award. This award, named after Dr. Bill Godfrey, is given annually to the player who best represents the spirit of intercollegiate hockey by his leadership both on and off the ice and by his conduct throughout the season.

Chant, the 2006 winner of the prestigious James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award, is a Dean's List student and an academic all-Canadian who was selected to represent Saint Mary's University in the 2005 Rhodes Scholarship competition. A native of Toronto, David also finds time in a very busy schedule for volunteer work. He was actively involved in the fundraising efforts of the Saint Mary's Athletic Council who raised over $20,000 for Sebastien Savage and is currently a member of the "65 Roses" organizing committee that will raise money for Cystic Fibrosis at an event in April. He has also been instrumental in reviving a defunct English Students' Society, which now has an active membership of 70 students.

David appeared in 18 games this season for the Huskies, posting an 8-7-1 record and a 2.65 goals against average. The Godfrey Award recipient is also the conference's nominee for the Dr. Randy Gregg Award.