Aces' Leavitt Named CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year

Published on April 7, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL on Friday announced that Alaska center Alex Leavitt is the recipient of the CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year award for 2005-06.

The award is presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the ECHL as voted by the coaches of the ECHL teams.

The second place finisher and the third place finisher were both from the Wheeling Nailers with forward Sean Collins and goaltender Andy Franck.

Selected to both the All-ECHL First Team and the ECHL All-Rookie Team, Leavitt leads the league with 91 points in 70 games and can become the first rookie in 15 years and only the third rookie ever to lead the ECHL in scoring. Daryl Harpe of Erie had 122 points (38g-84a) in 60 games as a rookie to lead the ECHL in its inaugural season in 1988-89 and Bill McDougall of Erie had 148 points (80g-68a) in 57 games as a rookie in 1989-90.

The 22-year-old Leavitt leads the league with 65 assists and he is first among rookies and second overall with 34 power-play assists while leading rookies and being tied for first with 45 power-play points. He has 26 multiple-point games, including four two-goal games and 19 multiple-assist games. He has 15 games with two assists and he had a career-high four assists and a career-best five points in a 6-3 win against Stockton on Jan. 21.

He was voted by National Conference coaches to play in the ECHL All-Star Game and scored a goal to help the National Conference to a 7-6 win.

The Edmonton, Alberta native played two seasons in the Western Hockey League from 2003-05 with Swift Current and Everett, scoring 130 points (43g-87a) in 135 regular season games and 15 points (8g-7a) in 16 playoff games. He also played two years at the University of Wisconsin from 2001-03 where he had 39 points (13g-26a) in 67 games.

ECHL Rookie of the Year Winners
2005-06 Alex Leavitt, Alaska Aces
2004-05 Joe Tenute, South Carolina Stingrays
2003-04 Kevin Doell, Gwinnett Gladiators
2002-03 Jason Jaffray, Roanoke Express
2001-02 Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators
2000-01 Scott Stirling, Trenton Titans
1999-00 Jan Lasak, Hampton Roads Admirals
1998-99 Maxime Gingras, Richmond Renegades
1997-98 Sean Venedam, Toledo Storm
1996-97 Dany Bousquet, Birmingham Bulls
1995-96 Keli Corpse, Wheeling Thunderbirds
1994-95 Kevin McKinnon, Erie Panthers
1993-94 Dan Gravelle, Greensboro Monarchs
1992-93 Joe Flanagan, Birmingham Bulls
1991-92 Darren Colbourne, Dayton Bombers
1990-91 Dan Gauthier, Knoxville Cherokees
1989-90 Bill McDougall, Erie Panthers
1988-89 Tom Sasso, Johnstown Chiefs

ECHL Stories from April 7, 2006

• Condors Soar Past Thunder - Stockton Thunder
• Grizzlies stuff Salmon Kings - Victoria Salmon Kings
• Falcons Still Unable to Solve Aces - Fresno Falcons
• RoadRunners Snap Winless Streak With 3-1 Win Over Gulls - Phoenix RoadRunners
• Wranglers cage Ice Dogs 4-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Roadrunners Run Past Gulls, 3-1 - San Diego Gulls
• Grizzlies Blank Salmon Kings, 3-0 - Utah Grizzlies
• Gladiators Power Past Stingrays 5-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
• 'Blades shoot down Ice Pilots 2-1 - Florida Everblades
• Royals' Hopes For Top Slot In North Fall In Loss To Dayton, 5-4 - Reading Royals
• Grrrowl double Lynx 4-2 - Augusta Lynx
• Alaska Aces F Alex Leavitt honored as ECHL Rookie of the Year - Alaska Aces
• Pair of Everblades win March Plus Performer Award - Florida Everblades
• Inaugural Fan Fest Held at Stockton Arena - Stockton Thunder
• Condors End Regular Season with Trio of Collections - Bakersfield Condors
• Royals' Doug Christiansen Loaned To Bridgeport - Reading Royals
• 'Blades make changes to roster before weekend series - Florida Everblades
• Venedam, Borders, McHugh to Return Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
• Florida's Bellissimo, Saviano Named HOK Sport ECHL Plus Performer Of The Month - ECHL
• AHL All-Rookie Team Has Former ECHL Players St. Pierre, Girardi - ECHL
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Checkers single-game playoff tickets on sale now - Charlotte Checkers
• Former Columbia Goaltender Hurme Wins AHL Award - ECHL
• Storm's Blight Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
• Blight is Rookie of the Month - Toledo Walleye
• Aces' Leavitt Named CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year - ECHL
• Leavitt honored as ECHL Rookie of the Year - Alaska Aces
• Collins and Franck finish second and third in Rookie of the Year voting - Wheeling Nailers
• Nailers At Your Service Dinner - Wheeling Nailers
• Lynx announce playoff dates and times - Augusta Lynx
• Royals Announce Playoff Schedule Possibilities - Reading Royals
• ECHL Today - ECHL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.