WCHA Release
MADISON, Wis. - Omaha hockey junior forward
Ryan Walters and junior defenseman
Andrej Sustr were both named to the All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association team today, part of the league's year-end awards.
Walters, who also finished as the WCHA's scoring champion for earning 40 points in 28 conference games, was named to the First Team, the first Maverick to earn the honor. Sustr was named a member of the Third Team.
Walters has had one of the finest seasons in UNO history. A native of Rosemount, Minn., Walters topped all league skaters, scoring 16 goals and adding 24 assists while also averaging a league-best 1.43 points per game. He had 50 points overall during the regular season, a total that ties for third best in school history, and he is just the third Maverick to score 50 or more points in a season. He ranks second in the NCAA in overall points (21-29=50) and has scored points in 26 of the last 29 games (21-26=47).
Walters was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association national player of the month for November, posting six goals and nine assists for 15 points and a +8 rating in seven games to help the Mavericks to a perfect 7-0-0 record. During that stretch, he scored goals in five straight games. Walters' 21 goals are tied fifth best in UNO history, he is just two points from becoming the 13th Maverick to score 100 career points, and he has played in 111 consecutive games.
For a full listing of the three All-WCHA teams and other award winners, see the link to the WCHA's release above.
Also today, the WCHA announced that 17 Mavericks were members of the All-WCHA Academic Team, part of a record 164 men's players to make the list. Players must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and have spent at least one year at their current school.
Those UNO players who made the list include: *
Bryce Aneloski (Sr., D, Pekin, Ill.); *
Dayn Belfour (So., G, Morden, Manitoba); *
John Faulkner (Sr., G, Sarnia, Ontario); *
Brent Gwidt (Sr., F, Minocqua, Wis.);
Ryan Massa (So., G, Littleton, Colo.);
Jaycob Megna (So., D, Northbrook, Ill.); *
Brock Montpetit (Jr., F, Somerset, Wis.);
Brian O'Rourke (So., D, St. Louis, Mo.); *
James Polk (So., F, New York, N.Y.); *
Zahn Raubenheimer (Jr., F, Smoky Lake, Alberta);
Andrew Schmit (So., F, Grafton, Wis); *
Johnnie Searfoss (Jr., F, Colleyville, Texas); *
Alex Simonson (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.); *
Andrej Sustr (Jr., D, Plzen, Czech Republic); *
Tony Turgeon (Jr., D, Grand Forks, N.D.);
Ryan Walters (Jr., F, Rosemount, Minn.);
Dominic Zombo (So., F, Ballwin, Mo.). Asterisks denote repeat honorees.
The Mavericks open the WCHA Playoffs against Minnesota State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary), March 15-17. Each game begins at 7:07 p.m. from the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn.
