FSU RECRUIT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Greg Rallo (Gurnee, Ill.), a member of the Ferris State University hockey program’s 2002 recruiting class, has added yet another honor to his lengthy list of accomplishments in the Junior hockey ranks as a result of being selected the 2001-02 USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year in an announcement made by USA Hockey.

Rallo, who signed with Ferris State during last November’s early-signing period for 2001-02 recruits, will be presented the award Saturday, June 8, at the 2002 USA Hockey Annual Congress during The President’s Awards Banquet, which will be held at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel. The USA Hockey Annual Congress, scheduled for June 5-8, is the yearly meeting for USA Hockey’s volunteer leadership from across the country, including members of the organization’s board of directors, councils, committees and sections.

“We’re thrilled for Greg,” stated FSU head coach Bob Daniels. “He’s well deserving of this prestigious award. This honor reflects positively both on Greg and the Ferris State hockey program.

“The fact that we signed a player of Greg’s caliber is a tribute to the outstanding job of my assistants (coaches) in recruiting good players,” added Daniels.

A 5-11, 170-pound center, Rallo completed his second year in 2001-02 as a member of the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues. He scored a team-high 40 goals and had 29 assists for a team-leading 69 points in 52 games to pace the Jr. Blues in scoring for the second consecutive season. His 40 markers was third best in the NAHL while his season-point total rank sixth highest among the league’s scoring leaders. During the 2001-02 campaign, Rallo registered two impressive scoring streaks, including stretches when he tallied 11 goals in seven games and notched at least one point in 13 straight contests. As a result, he was honored as the NAHL’s Player of the Week three times and was also selected to the NAHL’s 2001-02 Top Prospects Team. Rallo achieved both NAHL Rookie of the Year and second-team all-league accolades for the 2000-01 season after racking up 68 points on 43 goals and 25 assists in 53 outings.

A member of the ‘00-01 NAHL All-Rookie Team, Rallo’s 43 markers ranked second among the league’s top goal-scoring leaders while his 68 points were tops among all rookies in the NAHL and ranked fifth among the league’s leading point getters. He was honored as the NAHL’s Player of the Month (January 2001).

A 2001-02 NAHL First-Team pick, Rallo competed for USA Hockey as a member of the 2002 U.S. Junior Select Team at the 2002 Viking Cup in Camrose, Alberta. In the tournament, Rallo tied for the team lead in scoring with seven points on five goals and two assists while earning a spot on the all-tourney first-team squad. Prior to the Junior ranks, Rallo tallied 137 points with 79 goals and 58 assists in 60 outings as a member of the 1999-00 Midget AA Chicago Flames.

Rallo is the third recipient of this national award to play at Ferris State, joining former Bulldog skaters Jason Blake (1994-95) and Brian McCullough (1995-96).

The USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year Award is presented annually to the most outstanding American-born player in Junior hockey. Chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of Junior coaches and administrators, criteria for the award also includes having played for a U.S.-based Junior team.

Ferris State concluded the 2001-02 season with a 15-20-1 overall record, including a ninth-place 12-15-1 CCHA mark (25 league points).