CHRIS KUNITZ CAPTURES CCHA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Senior Forward Becomes First Bulldog To Receive League Honor

*2002-03 CCHA Award Winners* PDF

Senior forward Chris Kunitz (Regina, Sask.) of the 2002-03 Ferris State men's ice hockey team became the first Bulldog player to be named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Player of the Year at the annual Bauer Nike Hockey/CCHA Awards Presented by Galyan's Wednesday (March 19). The league's coaches voted on the season's eight individual awards, which were presented at Detroit's historic Fox Theatre.

Kunitz, who has registered 70 points on 30 goals and 40 assists in 38 contests this campaign, led Ferris to its first-ever CCHA regular-season championship. In addition, he has compiled 11 two-goal games to date while ranking second overall among the nation's scoring leaders.

Kunitz, a leading candidate for the 2002-03 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation's top collegiate player, moved into sole possession of second place among FSU’s all-time goal-scoring leaders last Saturday (March 15) versus Lake Superior State in first-round CCHA Tournament action with his 94th career tally in 148 games. Kunitz now trails the all-time leader Paul Lowden (1983-87) by seven goals. He also currently is eighth on Ferris’ all-time points leaders list with 166 career points (94-72–166). His career-high 70 points (30-40–70) this season is three away of the school mark for points in a campaign, which is held by Randy Merrifield (1983-84; 20-53–73 in 41 contests).

The conference scoring champion with 51 points on 24 goals and 27 assists in 28 league outings, Kunitz was a unanimous first-team all-league choice. The assistant captain was tops among the CCHA’s overall leaders in points (65), goals (28) and assists (37) during regular-season action this campaign. He’s a four-time CCHA Offensive Player of the Week selection (Oct. 21 & 28, Feb. 3 and March 3) and also was recognized twice (Oct. 29 and Feb. 4) as the U.S. College Hockey Online’s (USCHO) Offensive Player of the Week. Kunitz was a repeat All-CCHA honoree after attaining first-team laurels last season as a result of capturing the league goal-scoring title with 25 markers.

Claiming its first-ever Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Regular-Season title this season with a first-place 22-5-1 league mark, Ferris State’s 29-8-1 overall record is its best ever in the program’s 25-year NCAA Division I history.

The Bulldogs, who earned the number one seed in the 2002-03 CCHA Tournament, have advanced to this Friday’s (March 21) semifinal round contest of the CCHA Super 6 Championships at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich. FSU will take to the ice for a 4:05 p.m. (EST) opening faceoff versus the lowest remaining seed from Thursday’s (March 20) quarterfinal-round action. That contest will be televised live on Fox Sports Net-Detroit. The champion of this weekend’s CCHA Super 6 Championships receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.