Joe Blackburn Class: Senior Hometown: Livonia, Mich. Height / Weight: 5-11 / 183 Position: Goaltender Birthdate: 01/26/1979 Previous Team: Compuware

1999-2000: Compiled an 11-6-1 record, a 2.17 GAA and a .907 save percentage • His GAA ranked eighth in the nation and third in the CCHA • .907 saves percentage ranked 29th nationally • In conference games, he posted a 1.98 GAA (second in the CCHA) and a .908 save percentage (sixth) • Recorded his fourth career shutout vs. Ohio State (10/22) • Made career-best 37 saves, including 20 in the third period alone, against Michigan in the GLI championship game (12/30) • Earned GLI All-Tournament Team honors • He and Ryan Miller are just the second MSU goaltending tandem to both have over 10 wins in a season (Bob Essensa and Norm Foster did it four times, 1983-87) • Allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his 18 starts • CCHA All-Academic Team selection.

1998-99: Enjoyed one of the finest seasons ever by a college hockey goaltender, establishing MSU single-season records in goals-against average (1.55) and save percentage (.928) • Named to NCAA West All-American first team • Earned CCHA Best Goaltender honors • Named to All-CCHA second team • Earned a trio of academic honors – GTE Academic All-District second team, CCHA All-Academic honorable mention and Academic All-Big Ten • His GAA led the nation and was the best in the NCAA since Ken Dryden posted a 1.52 at Cornell in 1967-68 • His GAA and save percentage in conference games (1.34 and .935, respectively) set CCHA records • Posted a 21-5-7 record and owned three shutouts • Named CCHA and U.S. College Hockey Online Defensive Player of the Week after leading MSU to a sweep of Notre Dame and Michigan 2/20-21 (51 saves, 2 GA on the weekend) • Made a career-best 36 saves against Northern Michigan (1/23), helping MSU salvage a 1-1 tie • Had his first career shutout at Miami Nov. 14, his second in a 1-0 win over Notre Dame Feb. 12 and a third March 13 vs. Lake Superior in the CCHA Tournament • Allowed more than one goal just 12 times in 33 games and more than two goals just six times • Posted an assist at Lake Superior (1/22) • Missed six games during his stint with Team USA at the World Junior Championship.

1997-98: Appeared in five games, including four starts, as backup to first-team All-American Chad Alban • Finished with a 2-2-0 record, a 2.23 GAA and a .889 save percentage • Earned a win in his first start vs. Mankato State (11/14), stopping 11 shots and allowing two goals • Earned another win against Alaska Fairbanks (1/16), making 15 saves and allowing one goal • Was the tough-luck loser in a 1-0 game vs. Bowling Green (12/7) as he made a career-high 26 saves • His lone relief appearance helped MSU come from behind to beat Lake Superior (1/24) • Made his final start against NMU, suffering a 5-1 defeat while making 19 saves.

PRIOR TO MSU: Starred for the Compuware Ambassadors and Coach Mike Vellucci in 1996-97 • Earned first-team All-NAHL honors after leading the league in GAA (2.91) and save percentage (.910) • Posted a 19-5-1 record and led the team to a second-place finish, earning team MVP honors in the playoffs • An all-star game selection at the 1996 OHL Prospects Tournament • Michigan Hockey magazine’s Midget Hockey Player of the Year in 1996 and the magazine’s No. 1 college prospect in 1997.

WITH TEAM USA: One of two goaltenders named to the 1999 U.S. Junior National Team • Led the team at the World Junior Championship in Manitoba with a 3.03 GAA and a .909 save percentage • Posted 36 saves in a 5-2 U.S. upset of Canada on New Year’s Eve in Winnipeg • Earned the USA Hockey/Heaton Goaltender of the Year Award in 1996-97 • Led the U.S. Select 17 Team to a silver medal at the Pacific Cup in British Columbia in August of 1996 • Participated in the U.S. Junior National Team evaluation camp in August of 1997 in Lake Placid, N.Y.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 26, 1979 • A special education major interested in a career in teaching • Enjoys working out, playing golf, reading and working with children • Attended Livonia Churchill High School, where he earned two letters in baseball • Awarded the school’s scholar-athlete award his junior and senior years • Also earned the school’s Social Studies Award and Citizenship Award • Nickname is “Chuck” • Lists his biggest hockey influence as his first travel team coach, current head of the NHLPA Bob Goodenow, the father of MSU’s Joe Goodenow • A fan of the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres’ goaltender Dominik Hasek • Son of Jeffrey and Frances Blackburn.

CAREER STATISTICS

YEAR       GP   MIN       GA    GAA     SV      SV%     W-L-T
1997-98    5    242:12    9	2.23	72	.889	2-2-0
1998-99    33   2012:31   52	1.55	667	.928	21-5-7
1999-2000  18   1025:02   37	2.17	359	.907	11-6-1

TOTALS	   56	3279:45   98	1.79	1098	.918	34-13-8