FERRIS STATE HOCKEY RECOGNIZES 2004-05 AWARD HONOREES

Senior Jeff Legue Honored As Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player

Senior Jeff Legue was named Ferris State's Most Valuable Player for the 2004-05 season.

Senior center Jeff Legue (Cornwall, Ontario) was recognized as the 2004-05 Ferris State University men’s ice hockey team’s Most Valuable Player Saturday (April 2) night at the program’s annual awards banquet, which was sponsored by the FSU Blue Line Club and held at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Big Rapids, Mich.

Legue paced the Bulldogs this season in scoring with 44 points on a team-leading 24 goals and 20 assists to go along with eight power-play tallies, two short-handed markers and two game-winning lamplighters in 37 games. He also was the recipient of the Lloyd Earl Award as the team’s top points leader. The forward, who was recognized this season (Jan. 3) as both the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s (CCHA) and Inside College Hockey.com (INCH) Player of the Week, led Ferris in multi-point games (13) and multi-goal outings (four) this campaign. Legue closed out his career with 157 points, 67 markers, 90 assists, 45 multiple-point outings and +36 in plus/minus efficiency over a 152-game period. The 2002-03 All-CCHA Second-Team honoree presently ranks ninth on the school’s all-time leaders list in points, 11th in goals, and 13th in assists.

Freshman defenseman Adam Welch (Hastings, Minn.) was named the Rookie of the Year as he totaled one goal and five assists for six points in 36 outings. His six-point season total tied for top team scoring honors among Bulldog freshmen defenseman. The Blue Line Competitive Award was presented to both senior left wing Carter Thomson (Milden, Saskatchewan) and freshman defenseman Alex Spezia (Farmington Hills). Thomson, an assistant captain, tallied five goals and had four assists for nine points in 34 games this season while Spezia recorded four points (all assists) in 37 contests.

Three sophomores – left wing/defenseman Eric Vesely (Woodstock, Ill.), right wing Zac Pearson (White Lake) and left wing Matt Verdone (Summerstown, Ontario) were honored with the Steve Banonis Memorial Most Improved Player Award. Vesely notched three points with two goals and an assist in 32 encounters and had a career-best plus six efficiency rating. Pearson, who was last season’s winner of the Plus/Minus Award, registered his most productive season ever this season with career highs in points (16), goals (seven) and assists (nine) in 39 outings. The Bulldog forward recorded two goals and seven assists for nine points in 31 contests the previous campaign. Like Pearson, Verdone also enjoyed his best season ever in a Ferris jersey with career bests in points (15), goals (seven) and assists (eight) in 39 games. His three game-winning lamplighters this season marked a team high.

Eric Vesely was also bestowed with the Scholar-Athlete Award for his performance in the classroom and on the ice.

Defenseman Adam Welch was selected the Bulldogs' Rookie of the Year

The co-recipients of the Plus/Minus Award were Vesely and freshman center Adam Miller (Livonia), who each registered a team-leading plus six efficiency rating. Miller finished second in team freshmen scoring with 12 points on two goals and 10 helpers in 36 appearances.

Kim and Doug Hancock were honored with the FSU Blue Line Club Recognition Award for their many contributions to the Bulldog hockey program.

Ferris State wrapped up the 2004-05 season at 13-22-4 overall and 7-17-4 in the CCHA (10th-place tie) under 13th-year head coach Bob Daniels. The Bulldogs also recognized their six-senior member class of Legue, Thomson, left wing Derek Nesbitt (Egmondville, Ontario), defensemen Matt York (Woodhaven) and Skip Renauld (Regina, Saskatchewan) along with goaltender Mike Brown (Calgary, Alberta), the program’s all-time winningest netminder with a 63-57-7 career mark.