Hockey Announces 2015-16 Team Awards

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech hockey team passed out its annual awards at a dinner held tonight (May 17) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Goaltender Jamie Phillips, the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete award-winner and All-WCHA Second Team selection, took home the Merv Youngs Award as the team's most valuable player of 2015-16.

Phillips led the WCHA in minutes (1636:20) and wins (18) while ranking second in shutouts (3), third in goals against average (1.87) and fourth in save percentage (.927) during the regular season. The Caledonia, Ontario, native went 11-2-2 in his final 15 starts to help lead the Huskies to the MacNaughton Cup title and the No. 1 seed in the WCHA playoffs. Phillips finished his Tech career as the all-time leader in shutouts with 10 and had the second highest career win total in the 95-year history of the program with 57.

Blue-liners Matt Roy and Cliff Watson were named co-winners of the Gitzen-Loutit Memorial Award as they were deemed the most outstanding defensive players of the season. Roy found a spot on the All-WCHA Second Team after leading the league in goals by a defenseman with seven and finishing third among all WCHA defenders with 16 points in conference action. Watson, who served as a co-captain of the Huskies this winter, notched double-digit points for the second straight year and was one of Tech's most consistent players.

Max Vallis earned the Elov Seger Memorial Award as the most improved player following a season in which he scored eight goals and had 15 points in 18 outings to more than double his career point total. The Santa Clara, California, native was named Winter Carnival MVP after a three-goal weekend vs. Lake State.

Junior alternate captain Michael Neville captured his second Rick Yeo Unsung Hero Award. Neville was a vital piece to the MacNaughton Cup run as his versatility at center helped solidify the Tech lineup. The Woodbridge, Ontario, product finished with 12 points and excelled both defensively and on the penalty kill.

Jake Lucchini was given the Norbert Matovich Memorial Award as the Huskies' most outstanding freshman. Lucchini was fourth among freshmen in the WCHA with 11 points and earned a WCHA All-Rookie Team citation for his efforts.

The Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award went to Brent Baltus. The Nanaimo, British Columbia, native collected nine goals and 19 points while being penalized just three times in 37 outings. Baltus earned a WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award and was named to the league's all-academic team.

Senior CJ Eick received the George McCarthy Performance Award for scholastic and athletic achievement. Eick set career-highs in assists (16) and points (19) while also excelling in the classroom, capturing a WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award and a spot on the WCHA All-Academic Team.

Dylan Steman was presented the John MacInnes Slide Rule Award after posting the best GPA on the team in 2015-16 – a perfect 4.0 in mechanical engineering.

Co-captain Alex Petan earned the Gary Crosby Memorial Award as Tech's leading scorer. The Hobey Baker Award finalist and WCHA Player of the Year had 18 goals – the highest total of his four-year career – to go along with 15 assists for 33 points.

Michigan Tech earned the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular season champions and won 23 games in 2015-16, marking the first back-to-back 20-win seasons for the program since 1981-83. Tech's 52 wins over the last two winters are the most in the WCHA and fourth best mark in the nation.

The Huskies will unveil their 2016-17 schedule Thursday, and season tickets go on-sale Friday at the SDC Ticket Office.