For Immediate Release April 9, 2005
Subject: Men's hockey
Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's hockey team named the recipients of its team awards at the annual Maverick Hockey Awards Banquet held at the Holiday Inn in Mankato Sunday. The award winners are listed below.
Dan Tormey, Fr., Goaltender, Syracuse, N.Y. --- Tormey finished his maiden season with a 14-13-3 won-loss record, a .902 save percentage and a 2.83 goals against average. His 14 wins are the most by a MSU freshman goaltender since Brian Langlot posted a 15-7-2 record in 1991-92. He was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week three times during the course of 2005-06. He stopped 42 of 45 shots for a .933 save percentage and a 1.44 goals against average in a win and a tie at Alaska-Anchorage Nov. 4-5. He backstopped the Mavericks to an overtime tie and win over defending national champion Denver on Nov. 11-12. For the weekend, Tormey claimed his first career shut-out and stopped 56 of 59 shots for a .949 save percentage and a 1.44 goals-against average. He also turned aside 51 of 54 shots for a .944 save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average in a pair of wins over UAA Jan. 13-14.
Jon Kalinski, Fr., Forward, Lacorey, Alta. --- The youngest player on MSU’s roster by more than 22 months, Kalinski completed his freshman campaign with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 30 games. MSU's top-scoring newcomer this year, he ranked second on the team in +/- with a +8. He tallied his first career three-point game on a goal and two assists in a 7-3 home victory over Wisconsin Feb. 25th.
Rob Rankin, Sr., Forward, Eagan, Minn. --- Rankin finished 2005-06 with 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points - all single-seasons highs for his three-year MSU career. The Eagan, Minn., native, who tallied 23-26--49 in 106 career games, had five goals and one assist for six points in the final seven games of this year. He ranked fifth on MSU's scoring charts this year, tied for the team lead with two shorthanded goals and three game-winning goals and ranked third in plus-minus with a +6. The recipient of MSU's 2004-05 Best Hustle Award and a Maverick Achievement Award winner as a senior scholar-athlete, his 109 penalty minutes this year rank second on the team's all-time single-season list and his 242 career penalty minutes are third all-time. Rankin signed a professional contract with Pensacola (Fla.) of the East Coast Hockey League upon the conclusion of the season.
Ryan McKelvie, Sr., Forward, New Brighton, Minn. --- The veteran forward completed his four-year collegiate career owning 9-30--39 numbers in 132 games played. McKelvie, who suffered a broken leg and missed the final seven games of his senior season, had five multiple-point games during the course of his four-year MSU career. A three-year assistant captain and three-time WCHA All-Academic pick, McKelvie was a recipient of the Maverick Achievement Award as a MSU senior scholar-athlete.
David Backes, Jr., Forward, Blaine, Minn. --- Backes, who signed a pro contract with the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues following the conclusion of the 2005-06 campaign, missed one game in his three-year collegiate career and tallied 13 goals and 29 assists in establishing a career-high for points with 42 this season. The Blaine, Minn., native, a member of this year's RBK All-America Second Team, also led the Mavericks with a career-high 29 assists and 150 shots on goal this year. He ranked second on the team with seven power play goals and was third in goals (13) and game-winning goals (2). Named 2005-06 All-WCHA Second Team, Backes totalled 46-73--119 in 115 career games to rank 23rd on MSU's all-time scoring list. His career totals rank third on MSU scoring during the Division I era, with only Aaron Fox (MSU 1996-00, 164 points in 147 games) and Shane Joseph (1999-04,144 points in 139 games) ranking ahead of him. Also MSU's MVP last year, Backes led the Mavericks in scoring the past two years (he shared MSU's 2005-06 scoring lead with Travis Morin) and served as MSU's captain this past year.
MSU finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 17-18-4 overall record and completed the WCHA regular season with a 12-13-3 mark.
Paul Allan, MC for the banquet, opens the show.
Men's Head Coach Troy Jutting offers welcome.
Henry Okleshen awards the "Most Improved Player" plaque to Jon Kalinski.
WCHA Faculty Representative, Ken Anglin, speaks of Academic achievements of players.
Joe Frederick announced "BW3 Star of the Year" Award to Dan Tormey.
Mike Sullivan presents the "Mr. Hustle" award to Rob Rankin
Eric Means awards Rob Rankin with the "Unsung Hero" Award.
Dr. Wallace Mathews issues "Most Valuable Player" award to David Backes.
