SteelHounds Announce Team Award Winners

April 18, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown SteelHounds announced today the winners of the team's year-end awards following their second season in the Central Hockey League (CHL). The Hounds season ended last week with a first round best-of-seven series loss to the Colorado Eagles, four games to two.

For the second consecutive year, forward Jeff Christian has been named the SteelHounds Most Valuable Player. The Hounds Captain finished tops on the team and in the CHL with 116 points scoring 38 goals with 78 assists (also first in the league). His best professional season also included a + 45 rating, the best plus/minus in the CHL.

Unlike last season, this year Christian will share the honor with center Chris Richards who has been named the team's Co-MVP. The veteran finished second on the team and in the league with 106 points (39-67=106) and joined Christian as a first team ALL-CHL performer. Richards's season included career-highs in points, goals and power play goals (22).

Highlights from this past season for the duo include being named starters for the Northern Conference in the CHL All-Star Game in Bossier City, Louisiana. A game that for the second straight year saw Christian score the game winning goal for the North. Also, February 1st marked a record breaking performance as Richards and Christian combined for 14 points in a 9-1 victory over the Rocky Mountain Rage. Richards scored four goals with three assists and Christian tied the CHL record with seven assists in one game. Richards also recorded two six-point games including in game five of the team's playoff series when he scored a goal with five assists in the 6-3 victory.

Goaltender Brad Roberts has been named the Hounds Rookie of the Year. The WestPoint graduate finished the season 23-12-4 with a 2.70 goals against average and a .895 save percentage. His 23 wins were tied for third in the CHL and his 2309:54 minutes played ranked fifth in the league. The Cassville, New York native had an unmatched stretch of hockey in late February and early March that saw him go 11 straight games without a regulation loss. Over the three week stretch, Roberts went 10-0-1 and over the second half of the season he was 15-5-2. The playoffs saw the first-year netminder go 2-2. Last year, the award went to Chris Shaffer.

The team's Defenseman of the Year is Jeff Alcombrack who in his second year with the Hounds led all defensemen with 52 points (9-43=52). He also finished with five power play goals and a +17 plus/minus rating. The Kincardine, Ontario native saw his first year with the Hounds end abruptly in January after an injured ankle sidelined for the remainder of the season. 2006-07 was completely different as Alcombrack joined Shaun Landolt and Stephen Margeson as the only Youngstown players to dress in every game. Kelly Sickavish was named the Defenseman of the Year last season.

Margeson earned a pair of awards for the team during his breakthrough season as he has been named the Hounds Most Improved Player and the co-winner of the Unsung Hero. In his previous 157 games in the CHL (with Memphis and New Mexico), Margeson totaled 33 points (six goals and 27 assists). This season in 64 games with Youngstown, the Banff, Alberta native scored 17 goals with 22 assists for 39 points. During the playoffs, Margeson scored five points (3-2=5). During the season, Margeson played in every situation and played both defense and forward. Last year's MIP was defenseman Matt Hanson.

The other co-winner of the team's Unsung Hero (last year given to Darryl Lloyd) is Brad Patterson. The hard working center and Cranbrook, British Columbia native had a career-high 41 points (13-28=41) and competed every shift, every game.

Season tickets for the 2007-08 season are currently available with early payment incentives including a unique one-of-a-kind SteelHounds jersey available to season ticket holders. For more information and details about the promotion contact the SteelHounds Ticket Department at (330) 747-PUCK (7825) and talk to a ticket sales representative.

Co-Most Valuable Players: Jeff Christian and Chris Richards

Rookie of the Year: Brad Roberts

Defenseman of the Year: Jeff Alcombrack

Most Improved Player: Stephen Margeson

Co-Unsung Heroes: Brad Patterson and Stephen Margeson



Central Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2007


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