Kero Named to Senior CLASS First Team
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Michigan Tech's Tanner Kero was named a Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American on Thursday (April 9). The forward wrapped up his four-year career with the Huskies in 2014-15 and recently signed with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
Kero, a native of Hancock Mich., was named the 2014-15 WCHA Player of the Year, the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, and to the All-WCHA First Team. He was also one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award.
Kero won the WCHA scoring title with 13 goals and 21 assists in league games. He finished the season with 46 points on 20 goals and 26 assists. The co-captain had 12 multiple-point games, including a four-point outburst against Alabama Huntsville (Jan. 31) to notch his 100th career point. He had two six-game point streaks with 10 points in each run.
In 153 career games, he racked up 111 points on 55 goals and 56 assists to rank in a tie for 48th in Tech history. Kero was twice named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week and was on the 50th GLI All-Tournament Team.
Kero maintains a 3.72 grade point average in mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science. He has received four merit awards as the top student in his class. Kero is a WCHA Scholar-Athlete for the third year in a row and also a three-time member of the WCHA All-Academic Team.
Kero was selected as a co-captain by his teammates this season after serving as an assistant captain in 2013-14. He received the Merv Youngs Award as team MVP in 2013-14. Kero is only the third Husky to be named WCHA Player of the Year and the first since Mike Zuke in 1976. He is also the third Husky to be named WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year. As a sophomore, Kero earned the team's Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award. He is the second oldest child in a family of 10.
As a member of the Michigan Tech hockey team, Kero volunteered with Koaches Kids (reading books at local elementary schools), and volunteered at Breakers to Bay (a run that benefits a local hockey rink). He also volunteered coaching local youth hockey and has also volunteered his time at the Canal Run and the Portage Ball.
Colgate University defenseman Spiro Goulakos was named the 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award winner in NCAA Division I men's hockey.
The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's hockey coaches, national hockey media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men's hockey. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive difference as leaders in their communities.
Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-Americans
- Chad Demers, Air Force, Forward
- Spiro Goulakos, Colgate, Defense
- Tanner Kero, Michigan Tech, Forward
- Mark MacMillan, North Dakota, Forward
- C.J. Motte, Ferris State, Goaltender
Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-Americans
- Austin Czarnik, Miami (OH), Forward
- Nick Mattson, North Dakota, Defense
- Mike Paliotta, Vermont, Defense
- Kyle Rau, Minnesota, Forward
- Cody Wydo, Robert Morris, Forward