Taranto takes home MVP honor at annual hockey banquet

April 15, 2013

Jamie Foland
907-474-6807

The Alaska Nanooks men's hockey team awards banquet was highlighted by speeches from its seven-member senior class and senior right wing Andy Taranto was named the 2012-13 season's Steve Moria Most Valuable Player on Saturday night at the Princess Riverside Hotel.

Taranto capped off a stellar four-year career by leading the Nanooks offensively with 16 goals and 30 points, garnering the Keith Street Top Scorer award as well. He finished his career for the Nanooks with 120 points (59g, 61a), which ranks 18th among Alaska's all-time scoring leaders. He scored all of his points on the season in league play and was named to the 2013 All-CCHA Second Team.

The two-year assistant captain led the team offensively in the postseason as well, scoring two goals and an assist in the Nanooks best-of-three series against Michigan State and earning the team's Top Playoff Performer honor for the second time in as many years. A communication major, Taranto collected a fourth award as the Fan's Choice winner for the 2012-13 season.

Senior forward and team captain Adam Henderson collected two awards, as the 2012 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year earned the team's Dirk Anderson Scholar-Athlete award for the second consecutive year and the Don Jamieson Unsung Hero accolade.

The 6-2 center has maintained a 3.91 grade-point average in his business management studies and he was the Nanooks' nominee for the CCHA Scholar Athlete of the Year award this season.

In 35 games, Henderson scored three goals and six assists good for nine points, after scoring a goal and an assist in 24 games as a junior last year. He came on strong as the season came to a close, notching three goals and an assist in the final four games of the year.

Senior defenseman Kaare Odegard garnered two awards - the Ryan Reinheller Humanitarian for the second straight year and the Rick Pitta Most Dedicated Player. Odegard continued his effort for the With All Your Heart hospital campaign, which he co-founded with Alaska Hockey's volunteer office manager Shawn Head in 2011-12. He was a repeat nominee for the national Hockey Humanitarian award and was one of five finalists for this year's honor.

Rookie center Tyler Morley was named the Top Freshman, while junior rearguard Michael Quinn was awarded the Shawn Chambers Top Defenseman honor. Morley, a 2013 CCHA All-Rookie team member, was the fourth-best offensive contributor for the Blue and Gold on the year with 10 goals and 21 points to lead all first-year players. Quinn scored three goals and 14 assists good for 17 points in 37 games and was a penchant on the Nanooks special teams all season long.Sophomore defenseman Trevor Campbell was recognized as the team's Dean Fedorchuk Most Improved Player after scoring more than five times as many points as he did as a freshman. Campbell tied Quinn and rookie defenseman Colton Parayko offensively with 17 points, off two goals and 15 assists in 28 games.The Pumphouse Team Player Award was presented to senior goalie Steve Thompson.Also, Dr. Cary S. Keller, Alaska's team physician, was honored with the Pat and Gerry Shields Longevity Award and Dima Kulmanovsky, a Nanooks right wing from 1998-2001, received the Tavis MacMillan Alumni Award.

The Nanooks also recognized play-by-play broadcaster and long-time banquet emcee Bruce Cech, who completed his 25th season as the "Voice of the Nanooks" in the 2012-13 season.