Seawolves winger Grant named UAA team MVP

Anchorage Daily News
sports@adn.com
Published: April 13th, 2011 10:38 PM
Last Modified: April 13th, 2011 10:38 PM


Senior winger Tommy Grant, who helped UAA reach the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five for just the second time in program history and parlayed his career season into a pro contract, was named team Most Valuable Player at the Seawolves' award banquet Wednesday night.




Grant scored 16 goals and 32 points in 37 games, and signed a deal with the NHL's New York Rangers. He is currently playing for the Connecticut Whale in the American Hockey League.

Center Matt Bailey, who earned 10-10--20 totals in 30 games before a sprained knee ended his season, was named Rookie of the Year.

Senior center Craig Parkinson (8-13--21 in 37 games), an adept face-off man and shot-blocking penalty-killer who enjoyed a career scoring campaign, was voted Most Inspirational for the second straight season. He also won the Leon Thompson Fan Favorite in fan balloting.

Junior wing Jade Portwood, another exceptional penalty-killer, won the Corner Man award for the third straight season.

Freshman goaltender Chris Kamal, whose late-season brilliance delivered UAA to the Final Five, and sophomore winger Mitch Bruijsten (9-8--17 in 33 games) shared the Most Improved Player award.
All of those awards, except for the Leon Thompson, were determined in a vote of players.

Senior defenseman Luka Vidmar (3.41 GPA) won the Jack Peterson Student-Athlete award.

The Millers -- Michael, Kathy, Iain and Sarah -- were named winners of the Brush Christiansen Trailblazer award. Joe Quinn won the Seawolf Trailblazer honor.