The CHA’s awards banquet Thursday turned into the Andrew Murray awards, as the Bemidji State senior captured both CHA Player of the Year and CHA Student-Athlete of the Year honors — the first such feat in league history — as well as being unanimously named first-team All-CHA.
Murray, who scored 16 goals and added 21 assists before seeing his season end due to a broken collarbone in the regular-season finale against Air Force, is a business administration major and a 2001 draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Wayne State freshman center Stavros Paskaris is the league’s Rookie of the Year, the first Warrior to win the award. He was the team’s scoring leader with 31 points on 11 goals and 20 assists in 34 games.
The CHA Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season is fourth-year Bemidji State bench boss Tom Serratore. Bemidji State claimed its second consecutive CHA regular-season title while winning 20 games overall for the second year in a row.
Murray was one of two players to be selected unanimously to the All-CHA first team. Joining him as a unanimous pick was Alabama-Huntsville senior center Jared Ross, a first-team pick three years in a row and the CHA’s 2003-04 co-Player of the Year. Ross became the league’s all-time goal-scoring leader this season with 73. He has 22 goals and 40 points on the season.
Niagara senior center Barrett Ehgoetz, the CHA’s other co-Player of the Year last season, is a first-team All-CHA pick for the second consecutive season. Ehgoetz has become the league’s career leader in assists (95) and points (165) while leading the league this season with 30 assists and 45 points.
The first-team All-CHA duo on defense is led by another repeat selection in Alabama-Huntsville junior Jeremy Schreiber. His 20 assists and 22 points lead all CHA defensemen. He’s joined on the by Peter Jonsson, a senior from Bemidji State. Along with his 15 points, Jonsson anchors a defense which allows just 23.7 shots on goal per game.
Alabama-Huntsville’s third selection to the CHA’s first team was junior goalie Scott Munroe. A workhorse for the Chargers, Munroe has played 28 consecutive games, including 26 consecutive starts. He ranks sixth nationally with a .929 save percentage, posting a 15-9-4 record with a 2.31 goals against average and three shutouts.
The All-CHA second team featured a pair of Alabama-Huntsville junior teammates, left wing Bruce Mulherin and defenseman Jeff Winchester, along with Bemidji State senior left wing Brendan Cook, Niagara senior left wing Ryan Gale, Air Force sophomore defenseman Brian Gineo and Wayne State junior goalie Matt Kelly.
The all-rookie team included two unanimous choices at forward in Paskaris and Air Force freshman Eric Ehn. Robert Morris earned a pair of all-rookie selections in forward Jace Buzek and defenseman Chris Kaufman. Air Force defenseman Matt Charbonneau and Bemidji State goalie Matt Climie rounded out the squad.
First Team All-CHA
F-Andrew Murray, Bemidji State*
F-Jared Ross, Alabama-Huntsville*
F-Barret Ehgoetz, Niagara
D-Peter Jonsson, Bemidji State
D-Jeremy Schreiber, Alabama-Huntsville
G-Scott Munroe, Alabama-Huntsville
Second Team All-CHA
F-Bruce Mulherin, Alabama-Huntsville
F-Brendan Cook, Bemidji State
F-Ryan Gale, Niagara
D-Brian Gineo, Air Force
D-Jeff Winchester, Alabama-Huntsville
G-Matt Kelly, Wayne State
CHA All-Rookie Team
F-Eric Ehn, Air Force*
F-Stavros Paskaris, Wayne State*
F-Jace Buzek, Robert Morris
D-Chris Kaufman, Robert Morris
D-Matt Charbonneau, Air Force
G-Matt Climie, Bemidji State
*-unanimous selection
CHA All-Academic Team
Alabama-Huntsville — Shaun Arvai, Ryan [nl]Brown, A.J. Larivee, Chris Martini, Mike Salekin, Grant Selinger, Doug Watkins
Bemidji State — Brendan Cook, Luke Erickson, Lou Garritan, Jean-Guy Gervais, Ryan Huddy, Peter Jonsson, Andrew Martens, Ryan Miller, Andrew Murray, Chris Nathe, Garrett Roth, Nathan Schwartzbauer, Layne Sedevie, Rob Sirianni
Niagara — Allen Barton, Shayne Baylis, Ryan Carrigan, Barret Ehgoetz, Ryan Gale, Brian Hartman, Jason Jones, Andrew Lackner, Mario Nucci, Marc Norrington, Pat Oliveto, Kris Wiebe, Jason [nl]Williamson.
Robert Morris — Joey Olson.
Air Force — Matt Bader, Mike Knaeble, Brooks Turnquist.
Wayne State — Matt Boldt, Taylor Donohoe, Adam Drescher, Will Hooper, Mark Nebus.
