Mavericks Hand Out Team Awards
Mar 30, 2016 | Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha hockey head coach Dean Blais announced the 2015-16 team award winners on Wednesday.
The Mavericks recently completed their 19th season, posting a record of 18-17-1 and an 8-15-1-0/0 record in their third season in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Mavericks finished in sixth place and were eliminated by Denver in the first round of the NCHC Playoffs.
Omaha's Most Valuable Player and its Outstanding Forward was junior Jake Guentzel who led the team in scoring for the second straight season. Guentzel, who served as one of UNO's captains this season, scored 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points, reaching career highs in goals and points. He was named to the NCHC All-Conference Second Team and was a finalist for the conference's Forward of the Year award. The native of Woodbury, Minn. recently signed a try-out contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, forgoing his senior season.
Senior captain Brian Cooper earned three awards. He was named the team's Outstanding Defenseman as well as the Mike Rehmeier Biggest Heart and Plus/Minus Award winner. Cooper finished second in defenseman scoring for UNO with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points, tying all of his career highs. The native of Anchorage, Alaska led the Mavericks with a plus-7 rating and also paced the team with 51 penalty minutes.
Freshman Evan Weninger was named the team's Rookie of the Year and its Outstanding Goalie. Weninger led the Mavericks with 13 wins, a 2.46 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and one shutout. The native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was a member of the NCHC All-Rookie Team, leading the conference's freshman netminders in wins, GAA and save percentage.
Freshman Mason Morelli was named the Mavericks' Most Improved Player for 2015-16. Morelli tied for second in rookie scoring for UNO with seven goals and four assists for 11 points. His seven goals also were second-best among Maverick freshmen. The native of Minot, N.D. scored 10 of his 11 points in the second half of the season to tie for third-best on the team.
Senior Aaron Pearce was named the team's Seventh Man Award winner for exhibiting spirit, attitude and citizenship. Pearce played in 10 games and scored a goal for the Mavericks this season. The native of Mississauga, Ontario was a member of the NCHC's Academic All-Conference Team for the third straight season and also was an NCHC Scholar-Athlete for maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better.
Junior goaltender Kirk Thompson was named the Mavericks' top student-athlete for the second straight season with a 3.88 cumulative grade-point average. The native of Surrey, British Columbia posted a record of 4-7-1 this season with a 3.27 GAA and a .875 save percentage with one shutout.
The Mavericks recently completed their 19th season, posting a record of 18-17-1 and an 8-15-1-0/0 record in their third season in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Mavericks finished in sixth place and were eliminated by Denver in the first round of the NCHC Playoffs.
Omaha's Most Valuable Player and its Outstanding Forward was junior Jake Guentzel who led the team in scoring for the second straight season. Guentzel, who served as one of UNO's captains this season, scored 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points, reaching career highs in goals and points. He was named to the NCHC All-Conference Second Team and was a finalist for the conference's Forward of the Year award. The native of Woodbury, Minn. recently signed a try-out contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, forgoing his senior season.
Senior captain Brian Cooper earned three awards. He was named the team's Outstanding Defenseman as well as the Mike Rehmeier Biggest Heart and Plus/Minus Award winner. Cooper finished second in defenseman scoring for UNO with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points, tying all of his career highs. The native of Anchorage, Alaska led the Mavericks with a plus-7 rating and also paced the team with 51 penalty minutes.
Freshman Evan Weninger was named the team's Rookie of the Year and its Outstanding Goalie. Weninger led the Mavericks with 13 wins, a 2.46 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and one shutout. The native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was a member of the NCHC All-Rookie Team, leading the conference's freshman netminders in wins, GAA and save percentage.
Freshman Mason Morelli was named the Mavericks' Most Improved Player for 2015-16. Morelli tied for second in rookie scoring for UNO with seven goals and four assists for 11 points. His seven goals also were second-best among Maverick freshmen. The native of Minot, N.D. scored 10 of his 11 points in the second half of the season to tie for third-best on the team.
Senior Aaron Pearce was named the team's Seventh Man Award winner for exhibiting spirit, attitude and citizenship. Pearce played in 10 games and scored a goal for the Mavericks this season. The native of Mississauga, Ontario was a member of the NCHC's Academic All-Conference Team for the third straight season and also was an NCHC Scholar-Athlete for maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better.
Junior goaltender Kirk Thompson was named the Mavericks' top student-athlete for the second straight season with a 3.88 cumulative grade-point average. The native of Surrey, British Columbia posted a record of 4-7-1 this season with a 3.27 GAA and a .875 save percentage with one shutout.
Players Mentioned
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