A pair of British Columbia Hockey League graduates playing at the University of Denver were recognized for fine seasons on Monday when Inside College Hockey revealed their annual Western Collegiate Hockey Association award winners.
Pioneers goaltender Marc Cheverie was named INCH's WCHA Player of the Year and All-Conference Goaltender while defenceman Patrick Wiercioch also nabbed a spot on the All-WCHA Team. Denver finished atop the WCHA with a 27-7-4 mark during the regular season.
Cheverie, the former Nanaimo Clippers netminder, was recognized for an outstanding 2009/10 season in which the 2006 Florida Panthers draft pick picked up six shutouts and posted a 24-4-3 record, a 1.94 goals-against average and a save percentage of .937. As a result of his outstanding year, Cheverie is also considered a top candidate for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to college hockey’s top player. It would be only the third time that a goaltender has earned the honour.
Meanwhile, Wiercioch was also named to the INCH's All-WCHA Team after a tremendous sophomore campaign. The former Burnaby Express defenceman and Ottawa Senators draft pick has emerged as one of the nation's top offensive blueliners, as evidenced by six goals and 19 assists in 36 games after posting 35 points as a freshman.
Denver goes into this weekend's WCHA Final Five as the nation's top ranked team and looks to be a sure bet for one of 16 spots in the NCAA tournament.
