College Hockey awards handed out in DC

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hobey Baker  Award:

The Friday night in between the national semifinals and the national championship is always awards night for NCAA Men's Ice Hockey. As expected, Boston University went away as the big winners.  Matt Gilroy, BU's sensational senior defenseman, took home the coveted Hobey Baker Award.  For those who don't know, the Hobey Baker is hockey's version of the Heisman Trophy. Gilroy now has the chance to put the cherry on top of one of the best careers in BU history with a win tonight in the National Championship.  He is now a three time First Team All American, a Hobey Baker winner and an all around good person.  His main competition for the award was teammate Colin Wilson and Northeastern goalie Brad Theissen.  While Thiessen did have a great season, and career with the Huskies, Colin Wilson was the one who was giving him more competition.  Ultimately, character is a huge consideration in the award, and no one in the country has more character than Gilroy.  Gilroy was a walk on forward his freshman year and was on the verge of being cut by Jack Parker due to too many right handed forward.  In an attempt to make the team, Gilroy suggested a shot at defensemen and the story really takes over from there.  Gilroy is the first Terrier to win the award since Chris Drury in 1998. 

First Team All Americans:  

East First Team

G Brad Thiessen, JR, Northeastern (Aldergrove, BC)

D Matt Gilroy, SR, Boston University*# (North Bellemore, NY)

D Zach Miskovic, SR, St. Lawrence (River Forest, IL)

F David McIntyre, JR, Colgate (Pefferlaw, ON)

F Viktor Stalberg, JR, Vermont (Gothenburg, Sweden)

F Colin Wilson, SO, Boston University (Winnipeg, MB)

West First Team

G Alex Stalock, JR, Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth (So. St. Paul, MN)

D Ian Cole, SO, Univ. of Notre Dame (Ann Arbor, MI)

D Jamie McBain, JR, Univ. of Wisconsin (Faribault, MN)

F Louie Caporusso, SO, Univ. of Michigan (Woodbridge, ON)

F Aaron Palushaj, SO, Univ. of Michigan (Northville, MI)

F Ryan Stoa, JR, Univ. of Minnesota (Bloomington, MN)

College hockey Rookie of the Year:

Boston University takes home yet another award.  Keiran Milan, the 19 year old Edmonton native, who's sensational play has led the Terriers to the National Championship takes home a huge piece of hardware this weekend.  He currently has a 27-2-3 record, an NCAA record for a freshman goalie, an .891 winning percentage, best in the country for 2009, and a 1.85 GAA.  

From all accounts, I am a BU Terrier homer.  I am OK with that, but I can also be critical.  I didn't just pick them to win it all because of my affiliation with the club.  I picked them because they have the best team in the country, and apparently College Hockey experts agree with me.  

I hope you all enjoy the championship game tonight and check out my post game review tomorrow morning.

Have a happy Easter!