FSU'S CHRIS KUNITZ AMONG 2003 HOBEY BAKER AWARD FINALISTS

Senior Forward One Of 10 Candidates For Prestigious Award

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Senior forward Chris Kunitz is one of 10 national finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. (Mark Hicks/Westside Photo)

Senior forward Chris Kunitz (Regina, Sask.) of the 2002-03 Ferris State men's ice hockey team is among 10 national finalists announced Thursday (March 20) for the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is given annually to the top collegiate hockey player in the United States.

Kunitz, who 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 at Detroit's historic Fox Theatre on Wednesday (March 19), is one of three CCHA players included in the group along with John Michael-Liles of Michigan State and Ohio State's R.J. Umberger. He also joins former FSU player and 2002 candidate Rob Collins as the program's only Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalists. Ferris State, Michigan State and Cornell were the only schools to have a player recognized for the second consecutive year.

The list of 10 players was determined by a ballot of all 60 NCAA Division I college hockey coaches and by a fan vote. Kunitz held the distinction of being the top vote-getter in phase two of the fan balloting process with over 75,950 total votes. The Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists will be announced April 2 with the award recipient named in a live telecast from the NCAA Frozen Four Tourney on April 11, 2003 in Buffalo, N.Y.

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 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.