Hockey names 2012-13 captains, Kunyk Earns CCHA Preseason Honor
October 3, 2012
Jamie Foland
474-6807
Alaska Hockey's senior Adam HendersonDallas Ferguson on Tuesday morning. Also released Tuesday was the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Preseason All-Conference Teams and junior Cody Kunyk has been recognized with a Second Team selection.
In addition to the announcement of Henderson's captaincy, seniors Andy Taranto and Kaare Odegard, and junior Colton Beck will serve as alternate captains for the Nanooks this season.
Henderson, a 6-2, 210-pound centerman from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, came on strong down the stretch in the 2011-12 season. He finished the year with six goals and three assists in 35 games, eight of which were scored in the last 15 games of the season. For his efforts on and off the ice he was awarded the Don Jamieson Unsung Hero, the Dirk Anderson Scholar Athlete and shared the Dean Fedorchuk Most Improved Player honor with Beck.
The team's 2012 CCHA Scholar Athlete graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in May 2012 and is furthering his education this year by pursuing a business administration masters degree.
Odegard has proven a strong leader from the blue line as well as off the ice. He played in 26 games, scoring three points and contributing to Alaska's special teams as well as co-founding the With All Your Heart hospital foundation campaign that raised closed to $140,000 in 2011-12.
Beck, a 5-10 182-pound junior and left wing, played in all 36 of Alaska's game a year ago, wracking up 25 points along the way off 13 goals and 12 assists. He trippled his goal output from his rookie season, when he scored just four goals and 12 assists in 38 outings.
Taranto enters his second season serving as an alternate captain. He played in 35 games last season and was the second best scorer at season's end with 12-14--26. He was also the program's Top Playoff performer in their season-ending loss on the road at Lake Superior State.
A 2012 CCHA All-Conference Second Team selection, Kunyk garnered his first preseason honor from the Michigan-based league. He led the Nanooks offensively in 2011-12 with 32 points (15g, 17a) in 36 games. He was the sixth best scorer in league games and one of just three underclassemen among the conference's top-10 scoring leaders.
2012-13 CCHA Preseason All-Conference Teams
Preseason First Team
Position Name, Year, School First Totals
Forward T.J. Tynan, JR, Notre Dame 9 48
Forward Anders Lee, JR, Notre Dame 7 42
Forward Chase Balisy, JR, Western Michigan 5 40
Defense Dan DeKeyser, JR, Western Michigan 8 44
Defense Jon Merrill, JR, Michigan 8 44
Goaltender Frank Slubowski, SO, Western Michigan 6 40
Preseason Second Team
Position Name, Year, School First Totals
Forward Austin Czarnik, SO, Miami 3 31
Forward Alex Guptill, SO, Michigan 4 28
Forward Cody Kunyk, JR, Alaska 2 22
Defense Lee Moffie, SR, Michigan 3 34
Defense Kyle Follmer, SR, Northern Michigan 1 22
Goaltender Will Yanakeff, JR, Michigan State 2 17
Vote Values: 1st place = 5, 2nd place = 3, 3rd place = 1
Honorable Mention (next six highest point totals, regardless of position with first-team votes in parentheses): Scott Czarnowczan, JR, D, Ferris State, (2) 19; A.J. Treais, SR, F, Michigan, (1) 18; Kyle Bonis, SR, F, Ferris State, (1) 16; Kevin Kapalka, JR, G, Lake Superior, (2) 15; Andrew Hammond, SR, G, Bowling Green, (1) 15; Sam Calabrese, SR, D, Notre Dame (0) 12.