Alaska News

Seawolves winger Grant named UAA team MVP

Senior winger Tommy Grant, who helped UAA reach the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five for just the second time in program history and parlayed his career season into a pro contract, was named team Most Valuable Player at the Seawolves' award banquet Wednesday night.

Grant scored 16 goals and 32 points in 37 games, and signed a deal with the NHL's New York Rangers. He is currently playing for the Connecticut Whale in the American Hockey League.

Center Matt Bailey, who earned 10-10--20 totals in 30 games before a sprained knee ended his season, was named Rookie of the Year.

Senior center Craig Parkinson (8-13--21 in 37 games), an adept face-off man and shot-blocking penalty-killer who enjoyed a career scoring campaign, was voted Most Inspirational for the second straight season. He also won the Leon Thompson Fan Favorite in fan balloting.

Junior wing Jade Portwood, another exceptional penalty-killer, won the Corner Man award for the third straight season.

Freshman goaltender Chris Kamal, whose late-season brilliance delivered UAA to the Final Five, and sophomore winger Mitch Bruijsten (9-8--17 in 33 games) shared the Most Improved Player award.

All of those awards, except for the Leon Thompson, were determined in a vote of players.

ADVERTISEMENT

Senior defenseman Luka Vidmar (3.41 GPA) won the Jack Peterson Student-Athlete award.

The Millers -- Michael, Kathy, Iain and Sarah -- were named winners of the Brush Christiansen Trailblazer award. Joe Quinn won the Seawolf Trailblazer honor.

Anchorage Daily News

sports@adn.com

ADVERTISEMENT