March 11, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - - Michigan State hockey captain Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) has earned Second Team All-CCHA honors this season, determined by a vote of the league's head coaches. It is the second consecutive season that the netminder has been honored with All-CCHA accolades, as he was a member of the First Team last year.

While the Spartans struggled this season, Lerg was certainly a bright spot, as he consistently performed at a high level throughout the season. Lerg leads the country in saves (1,050) and became the CCHA's All-Time saves leader in the last week of the regular season - his 3,996 career saves places him second all-time on the NCAA's career list as well. Lerg compiled a 2.94 goals against average and .917 save percentage in his senior season; in his career, his .921 save percentage ranks second all-time in the MSU annals and tied for 15th all-time in the NCAA recordbook. He ranks among the all-time leaders in no fewer than 10 categories in the MSU all-time goaltending records.

This season, Lerg was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week three times, was a finalist for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, and is a finalist for both the Hockey Humanitarian and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. He was also selected to the NCAA Skills Challenge at the Frozen Four in Washington, DC. Lerg is a candidate for the CCHA's Ilitch Humanitarian Award and was MSU's representative on the CCHA All-Academic Team.

At the team's recent awards banquet, Lerg was named team MVP for the third consecutive season, in addition to winning the Blueline President's Award (top senior scholar-athlete), the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award, and the Amo Bessone Award for athletic and scholastic achievement and community involvement.

In addition to Lerg, freshman Daultan Leveille (St. Catharines, Ontario) was an honorable mention selection to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Leveille ranked second on the team in scoring with nine goals and 18 assists for 17 points; he was second in both goals and power-play goals, and was tied for fourth in assists. Leveille was named MSU's Most Outstanding Rookie at last week's team awards banquet.

2008-09 CCHA All-Conference Teams

First Team

Position        Name, Year, School      First   Totals
Forward Carter Camper, SO, Miami        9       51
Forward Aaron Palushaj, SO, Michigan    8       49
Forward Louie Caporusso, SO, Michigan   8       47
Defense Erik Gustafsson, SO, Northern Michigan  7       40
Defense Ian Cole, SO, Notre Dame        5       36
Goaltender      Chad Johnson, SR, Alaska        7       47
Second Team
Position        Name, Year, School      First   Totals
Forward Erik Condra, SR, Notre Dame     2       28
Forward Christian Hanson, SR, Notre Dame        3       28
Forward Patrick Galivan, SR, Western Michigan   4       27
Defense Kyle Lawson, JR, Notre Dame     5       31
Defense Eddie DelGrosso, JR, Nebraska-Omaha     3       26
Goaltender      Jeff Lerg, SR, Michigan State   2       23 

Vote Values: 1st place = 5, 2nd place = 3, 3rd place = 1

Honorable Mention (next six point totals, regardless of position with first team votes in parentheses): Jordan Pearce, SR, G, Notre Dame, (2) 22; Dan Sexton, SO, F, Bowling Green, (1) 21; Chris Summers, JR, D, Michigan, (3) 20; Calle Ridderwall, SO, F, Notre Dame, 20; Chad Langlais, SO, D, Michigan, 16; John Albert, SO, F, Ohio State, 14.

Others receiving votes: Forwards -- Pat Cannone, SO, Miami, 9; Corey Elkins, SR, Ohio State, 7; Dan Charleston, SR, Nebraska-Omaha, 6; Mark Olver, SO, Northern Michigan, 5; Brandon Svendsen, SR, Bowling Green, 5; Justin Mercier, SR, Miami, 4; Braden Walls, SR, Alaska, 1; Max Campbell, SO, Western Michigan, 1; Zac Dalpe, FR, Ohio State, 1. Defense -- Kevin Roeder, SR, Miami, 12; Zach Redmond, SO, Ferris State, 10; Jeff Petry, SO, Michigan State, 8; Tyler Ludwig, JR, Western Michigan, 6; Matt Bartkowski, FR, Ohio State, 4; Chris Wideman, FR, Miami, 4; Steven Kaunisto, JR, Lake Superior; 3. Goaltenders -- Brian Stewart, JR, Northern Michigan , 9; Billy Hogan, SO, Michigan, 4; Riley Gill, JR, Western Michigan, 2; Pat Nagle, So, Ferris State, 1.

2009 All-Rookie Team

Goalie - Connor Knapp, MIA Defense - Matt Bartkowski, OSU; Brandon Burlon, UM ; Chris Wideman, MIA Forwards - Zac Dalpe, OSU; Billy Maday, ND; David Wohlberg, UM

Honorable Mentions

Goalie - Taylor Nelson, FSU Defense - Kevin Connauton, WMU; Forward - Fred Cassiani, LSSU; Daultan Leveille, MSU; Ian Boots, OSU; Greg Squires, WMU