Hockey team announces award winners

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force hockey team announced its annual winners at its end-of-season banquet Sunday, March 19, at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs.

Senior Matt Bader took home the top honor as he became the first two-time recipient of the Vic Heyliger Award. The Heyliger, voted on by the team, is the cornerstone of Air Force hockey. It is awarded to the player whose dedication, character, leadership and work ethic exemplify Falcon Hockey. A two-year co-captain, Bader's leadership and all-around play were keys to the Falcons success. An academic all-CHA selection from Beaverton, Ore., Bader finished the season with five goals and six assists for 11 points.

Sophomore Eric Ehn earned the Chuck Delich award as the team's most valuable player. The award is voted on by the team. The center from Dexter, Mich., was a second-team all-CHA selection as he led the team with 14 goals, 21 assists and 35 points. His 25 points in 20 league games set a new school record. Ehn was named the CHA Offensive Player of the Week twice this season.

The Larry Cronk Award was presented to junior Billy Devoney. The Cronk, voted on by the team, is presented to the player whose play on the ice inspires his team and most typifies Falcon hockey. The defenseman from Buffalo Grove, Ill., played in all 32 games and had four goals and five assists for nine points. He scored the game-winner late in the third period to beat league champion Niagara on the road.

Sophomore Josh Schaffer was named the team's most improved player for the 2005-06 season. The award is voted on by the team. A center from West Bloomfield, Mich., scored 22 points more than he did as a freshman. As a rookie he had one assist in 26 games. However, this season, he was second on the team with 10 goals, 13 assists and 23 points. Schaffer tied for the team lead with six power-play goals and earned the team's Easton Three-Star Award for the season.

The John Matchefts Award for freshman of the year, voted on by the team, was split between two stellar rookies. Defenseman Michael Mayra and winger Mike Phillipich were honored as co-winners. Mayra was a second-team all-CHA selection and was named to the league's all-rookie team. He was the top scoring rookie defenseman in the CHA with 14 points in 13 league games. In all games, he was second on the team among the blue-liners with 16 points. Phillipich was named the CHA Rookie of Week and was sixth on the team with 12 points in league games. In all games, he had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. His +1 plus/minus ratio was the second-best on the team.

Senior Brooks Turnquist was named the team's defensive player of the year. This award is given to the player who the coaching staff feels was the team's most diligent defensive performer. Defensive habits and skill, along with plus-minus, are factors used to select the recipient. A native of Apple Valley, Minn., Turnquist was named the CHA Student-Athlete of the Year. He never missed a game in his Academy career, playing in 142 consecutive contests. A team co-captain as a junior and senior, he had 15 points this season in 32 games. He ranked among the league's top scoring defensemen for three consecutive seasons and was a three-time academic all-CHA selection.

Junior goaltender Ben Worker earned the Jim Bowman Award as the team's top scholar-athlete. Worker carries a 3.55 cumulative grade point average as a physics major. He is a two-time academic all-CHA selection with aspirations of becoming a pilot. He played in two games this season against Union and Bemidji State.

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