Trio of Nanooks Garner Silverware at CCHA Awards Banquet

DETROIT, MI – Three Alaska Nanook men's ice hockey players were dressed to the nines in their pre-fitted tuxedos as they attended the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Awards Banquet at the Fox Theatre Thursday night and collected a handful of trophies.

The trio included, freshman right wing Andy Taranto (Woodridge, IL, Fargo (USHL)) who garnered the CCHA's Rookie of the Year title, senior center Dion Knelsen (Three Hills, AB, Drumheller (AJHL)) who was named the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and also received the Mike and Marian Ilitch Humanitarian Award and sophomore Scott Greenham (Addison, ON, Oakville (OPJHL)), who was recognized as the Alaska Nanooks' top Perani Cup point getter for the 2009-10 campaign.

Taranto became the first player in program history to be honored as the CCM/CCHA Rookie of the Year. He led all rookies in conference scoring with 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points. He also finished the CCHA regular season ranked third in the nation in rookie scoring with 16-23-39.

“I am very proud and honored to receive the Rookie of the Year award,” said Taranto. “I want to thank the team and coaching staff for all of their hard work and dedication and for helping me improve my freshman season.”

“It's difficult to be happy after losing this past weekend (at Northern Michigan) and also because we can't celebrate with the entire team,” Taranto added. “However, we are happy with the way the season played out and excited for the possibility of playing in the national tournament.”

Knelsen, a business administration major, became the first Nanook to garner the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. He holds a 3.985 grade-point average and was named to the Chancellor's List (3.90-4-0 GPA) in all seven of his semesters thus far at Alaska. The 21-year-old also finished tied for eighth in the CCHA in scoring with 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points.

"Dion epitomizes what we look for in student-athletes,” said University of Alaska Fairbanks Director of Athletics, Forrest Karr. “He is dedicated, works hard and makes everyone around him better. The Faculty Athletics Representatives choosing to recognize Dion demonstrates a high level of respect for UAF."

Knelsen also became the first Alaska skater to win the CCHA Humanitarian Award, which recognizes the league's top citizen, based on contributions off the ice, as well as on, to his team, his program, his school and his community.

"I am surprised and humbled to win both the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and the Ilitch Humanitarian Award,” said Knelsen. “There are many other players on my team, as well as throughout the league, who through unselfish giving of their time, unwavering service to their respective communities, and commitment to on-ice excellence have proven themselves to be more than worthy of both of these tremendous honors.”

The Three Hills, Alberta, native has volunteered his time to a multitude of causes including “Nooks for Books” (a program where Nanook student-athletes read to children at local elementary schools), Sports Night at the Denali Center (an assisted living home for senior citizens in Fairbanks) and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Knelsen also sponsors a child in the Dominican Republic and is a co-sponsor with his teammates for another child there.

He is one of seven finalists for the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to the college hockey player that most personifies true community spirit through the selfless commitment of leadership, effort and time. This year's recipient will be announced at the Frozen Four on Friday, April 9^th.

“I count myself truly blessed to be a college hockey player,” Knelsen added, “and am thankful for the many people who have inspired me throughout the years to invest in the people around me. I'd especially like to thank my teammates, the Alaska Nanooks coaching staff and volunteers, the Fairbanks community, as well as the CCHA for giving me an opportunity to play in the best college hockey league in the world for the past four years."

Greenham was Alaska's Perani Cup point champion through 28 league games in the 2009-10 campaign. He earned first and second star honors three times apiece, and third star on two occasions for a grand total of 26 points and eighth best among other CCHA players. Taranto was second overall for Alaska with 24 points and Knelsen was third with 22.

Michigan State's sophomore goalie Drew Palmisano was the league's overall champion with 44 points. Former Alaska goalie and All-American Chad Johnson was the 2008-09 Perani Cup point champion.

While the CCHA Championships kick off Friday afternoon (live coverage of Friday's two semi-final games and Saturday's Championship game can be seen on KFXF Fox 7), the trio of Nanooks will return to Fairbanks to rejoin their teammates in practices in preparation for the program's potential and history-making first berth to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

The 2010 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Selection Show, when the tournament's 16-team field is officially announced, will air live on ESPN2 on Sunday, March 21 at 7:30 a.m. AKT.

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