April 20, 2008

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst junior goaltender Matt Lundin was named Team MVP during the 5th Annual Men's Hockey Recognition Night Saturday at the Kahkwa Club. Meanwhile, eight of his teammates picked up other awards.

Lundin had a stellar first season at Mercyhurst. His 2007-08 credentials include: Played in and started 30 games while battling injuries...had a record of 13-12-5, a goals-against average of 2.81 and a save percentage of .918...lone shutout came in a 3-0 win against Army on 1/11...three-time AHA Goaltender of the Week (12/17, 1/14, 3/10)...stopped a combined 185 of 195 shots in five games of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs, helping the Lakers advance to the championship game against Air Force...had two assists (vs. Air Force, 2/9 and vs. Sacred Heart, 3/14)...season high of 51 saves at RIT on 11/17...Atlantic Hockey achievements: 9th in goals-against-average at 2.97, 8th in save percentage .911, and 5th in winning percentage .523

Other recipients were:
Top Defenseman : junior Bobby Phillips. Played in 37 games...scored three goals and added five assists for eight points...one game-winning goal...finished season +7.

Top Forward: senior Ben Cottreau. Led the team in assists (23) and points (36), while scoring 13 goals in 34 games, having missed seven games due to injury...scored five power-play goals, one short handed and two game-tying goals...had a seven-game scoring streak from 10/19 at Maine through 11/9 at Michigan State and an eight-game streak from 12/14 vs. American International through 1/19 at Connecticut...had one goal and four assists in Atlantic Hockey Tournament, with the goal coming against top-seeded Army in the semifinals...was named to the AHA Second Team All-Conference and was nominated for the 2008 Frozen Four Skills Challenge in Denver...in Atlantic Hockey: tied for seventh in shorthanded goals, tied for 8th in assists (18), and tied for 13th in points (25)...finished his career seventh in team history points with 156, one behind former standout Louis Goulet (1998-01), tied-for-seventh in game-winning goals with eight with Rob Madia (1991-92), Dave Borrelli (2002-05) and Brad Olsen (1998-01), tied for fourth in power-play goals with 26 with Adam Tackaberry (2000-03) and Borrelli, tied-for-seventh in assists with 95 with Scott Champagne (2003-06)...finished career with 61 goals and 95 assists for 156 points in 132 games played...co-team captain..signed with the Albany River Rats of the AHL following the season and scored two goals in first professional game (3-0 win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton March 21)

Top Defensive Forward: senior Kerry Bowman. Played 36 games...scored five goals and assisted on nine for 14 points...had one power-play goal, a short handed, and two game-winning markers on the season...scored the game winner in overtime against Canisius on 3/8 to win the best-of-three quarterfinals and send the Lakers to the AHA Final Five in Rochester...Bill Smith Award winner...finished career with 12 goals, 16 assists and 28 points in 120 games...signed contract with Port Huron Icehawks of International Hockey League following the season

Freshman of the Year: Scott Pitt. Played in all 41 games...recorded six goals and 15 assists for 21 points...led all freshmen in points and assists were second-best on the team...four power-play goals and one game winner...in Atlantic Hockey: tied for 6th in freshmen scoring with 17 points.

Most Improved Player: A tie between sophomore Chris Risi and junior Adam Falkner. Risi played in 33 games...tallied six goals and nine assists for 15 points...second on the team with a +6 plus/minus rating...two game-winning goals and one overtime marker...had best shot percentage on the team (.200)...named to AHA All-Tournament Team after posting four points in five games, two goals and two assists...scored game winner in Game 1 of best-of-three quarterfinals against Canisius (3/7). Goaltender Falkner did not see any action after being called up from the club team following an early-season injury to Matt Lundin.

Hustle Award: freshman Dan Bremner. Played in 22 games...had four goals and three assists for seven points...one power-play goal.

Scholar Athlete Award: Matt Fennell. Played in 37 games with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points...presented conference Scholar-Athlete Award during season for perfect 4.0 average as a freshman...five power-play goals...in Atlantic Hockey: tied for 13th in defensemen scoring with 12 points, tied for 11th in power play goals with 5...three-game scoring streak was ended in season-ending 5-4 double OT loss against Air Force in the AHA Championship game.