Slater and Thelen Earn CCHA First-Team Distinction
3/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 10, 2004
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -
Michigan State junior forward Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich.) and freshman defenseman A.J. Thelen (Savage, Minn.) have been selected to the 2004 All-CCHA First Team, as announced by the league today (March 10). The league's 12 coaches vote for the all-conference teams and are not allowed to vote for their own players.
Slater, who earned All-CCHA First-Team honors in 2003 and was a 2002 CCHA All-Rookie honoree, earns first-team honors for a second consecutive year. In doing so, he becomes the fourth straight Spartan to earn first-team all league honors in back-to-back seasons, joining Mike Weaver (1999 and 2000), Ryan Miller (2001 and 2002) and John-Michael Liles (2002 and 2003). In addition, he is the lone first-team returnee from one year ago.
"It's a great honor to be selected to the All-CCHA First Team," said Slater. "They are plenty of very deserving players in the league who could receive the honor. It's a big thrill to be named to the same team as A.J. (Thelen.)."
The All-America and Hobey Baker award candidate paces MSU in scoring with 45 points on 17 goals and 28 assists. His 45 points lead the CCHA overall scoring race and puts him tied for fifth in the nation. He earned CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors three times (Oct. 27, Feb. 9 and Feb. 23) this year. In addition, he was named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month for February, after tallying 2-9-11 points in six games, an average of 1.83 points-per-game. In addition, he had one game-winning goal and a +6 rating while leading the Spartans to a 5-1 record during the month.
Over the course of the last eight games, Slater has tallied 2-10-12 totals. This total includes five points (one goal, four assists) in MSU's two-game sweep of Nebraska-Omaha (Feb. 20-21). He has played in 112 career contests, posting 46 goals and 75 assists for 121 points, an average of 1.08 points-per-game.
 Freshman blueliner A.J. Thelen became just the second MSU player, joining Ryan Miller in 2000 (CCHA All-Rookie and All-CCHA Second Team) to earn both all-rookie and all-league honors in the same season.  | |
"It's unreal," said Thelen. "I never thought this day would come. I thought I'd come in here and work my up through the lineup. Being categorized with Jim Slater, takes my breath away.
"This season has been unreal for me. I got a lot of good bounces and my teammates have been really good to me. The way coach let me play gave me a chance to play my game."
Thelen is tied for third on MSU in scoring and ranks first among CCHA blueliners with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists). He is third in the nation in scoring among rearguards behind UMass senior Thomas Pock (14-20--34) and Minnesota junior Keith Ballard (11-20--31). In addition, his 11 goals tie him for second in the nation in goals by a blueliner behind Pock with 14.
He currently ranks fifth in the country in points-per-game among defenseman at 0.78. Pock leads all blueliners with a 1.03 points-per-game average.
Junior forward Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.), sophomore defenseman Corey Potter (Mason, Mich.) and freshman netminder Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township, Mich.) were among the other players who received votes. Lalonde has played in 38 games and ranks as MSU's second-leading scorer with 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists). Potter has played in 34 games with seven helpers. Meanwhile, Vicari has posted a 13-11-1 mark, along with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .925 saves percentage. He leads the CCHA and nation with seven shutouts.
No.11 Michigan State (21-15-2 overall, 17-9-2 CCHA) opens up the first round of the CCHA Playoffs entertaining Ferris State (15-18-3 overall, 10-7-1 CCHA) at Munn Ice Arena March 12, 13 and 14 (if necessary). Friday's game begins at 7:05 p.m., while on Saturday, the puck will drop at 7:35 p.m. as the game will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Detroit. If a third game is necessary on Sunday, the game will start at 7:05 p.m.
2003-04 CCHA All-Conference TeamFirst TeamPosition Name, Year, School First TotalsForward Derek Edwardson, Sr., Miami 10 53Forward Jim Slater, Jr., Michigan State 9 51Forward T.J. Hensick Fr., Michigan 8 41Defense A.J. Thelen, Fr., Michigan State 5 37Defense Andy Greene, So., Miami 4 36Goalie Jordan Sigalet, Jr., Bowling Green 5 34Honorable Mention (next six point totals, regardless of position with first team votes in parentheses): Craig Kowalski, SR, G, Northern Michigan, (1) 22; Nate Guenin, SO, D, Ohio State, (2) 17; Doug Andress, SR, D, Ohio State, (3) 16; Mike Kompon, SR, F, Miami, (1) 16; Kelly Czuy, SO, F, Alaska Fairbanks, 15; Kevin Bieksa, SR, D, Bowling Green, (1) 14.
Second TeamPosition Name, Year, School First TotalsForward Greg Hogeboom, Sr., Miami 3 34Forward Rob Globke, Sr., Notre Dame 2 31Forward Aaron Gill, Sr., Notre Dame 1 25Defense Brett Lebda, Sr., Notre Dame 3 32Defense Nathan Oystrick, So., N. Michigan 3 22Defense Brandon Rogers, Jr., Michigan 1 22Goalie Al Montoya, So., Michigan 4 32
Vote Values: First place is five, Second place is three and third place is one.
Others receiving votes: Forwards - Dana Lattery, SR, Western Michigan, (1) 12; Mike Lalonde, JR, Michigan State, 11; Scott May, SR, Ohio State, 8; Paul Caponigri, SR, Ohio State, 6; Jeff Campbell, SR, Western Michigan, (1) 5; Dave Steckel, SR, Ohio State, 4; Vince Bellissimo, SO, Western Michigan, 3; Ryan Campbell, SR, Alaska Fairbanks, 3; Matt Christie, FR, Miami, 3; Brett Smith, SR, Ferris State, 1; Brent Walton, SO, Western Michigan, 1; Dan Knapp, SO, Ohio State, 1. Defense - Tom Galvin, SR, Notre Dame, (1) 5; Jordan Hendry, SO, Alaska Fairbanks, (1) 5; Corey Potter, SO, Michigan State, 4; Felipe Larranaga, SR, Alaska Fairbanks, 3; Neil Komadoski, SR, Notre Dame, 2; Simon Mangos, SR, Ferris State, 1. Goaltenders - Dominic Vicari, FR, Michigan State, (1) 9; Brandon Crawford-West, FR, Miami, (1) 6; Mike Betz, SR, Ohio State, 5.
