Florida Panthers goalie prospect Marc Cheverie has been nominated for the 2010 Hobey Baker Award which is awarded every year to college hockey’s top player. Cheverie is a junior with the #1 ranked Denver Pioneers who will face the RIT Tigers in their quest to be the best in NCAA Division 1 hockey.
With Jacob Markstrom expecting to play in Rochester next season we could see Cheverie in an Amerks sweater in the 2011/2012 season (assuming for now the two teams stay affiliated). Not a bad outlook on the goaltending front for the future.
Here’s some more stats on Cheverie:
Cheverie, 23, was named the WCHA Player of the Year and ranks as the national leader in wins (24), save percentage (.937) and shutouts (6). The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native posted a 24-4-3 overall mark while playing for the University of Denver, helping his team earn the No. 1 ranking in the Division I standings. Cheverie was drafted by Florida in the seventh round (193rd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
When I saw him play at the Panthers Development camp last summer he looked great at the time facing current professional hockey players. The Panthers may have one of those rare late round draft picks that goes on to be a top player.
The RIT Tigers also deserve more of a mention with their outstanding season. Now that the season is over I regret another year has passed without going to one of their games. Here’s more from them about their entry into the NCAA Tournament from RITAthletics.com:
ROCHESTER, NY – For the first time since moving to Division I in 2005, the RIT men’s hockey team (26-11-1) will be one of just 16 teams to compete in the 2010 NCAA Division I Tournament. RIT, who earned the NCAA automatic berth by winning the Atlantic Hockey Tournament, will play Denver University in the East Region Semifinal at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. on Friday at 3 p.m. The game will be aired live on ESPNU with John Buccigross and Barry Melrose bringing you all the action.
RIT is the No. 4 seed in the region, while Denver (27-9-4) is the top seed. Denver, who plays in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and boasts 14 NHL draft picks. Cornell (21-8-4), the ECAC Champion, is No. 2 seed in the region, and will face No. 3 New Hampshire (17-13-7) of Hockey East in the second regional semifinal on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The two winners will face-off in the East Region Championship on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
“Denver is an extremely talented team with great size, they skate well, and were the top team in the nation for most of the year,” said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. “They are a very deserving top-seed in our region.”
RIT is the hottest team in the nation, having won 10 straight games. The 26 wins are a team record at the Division I level, and third most in the nation this season. RIT is among the national leaders in scoring offense, scoring defense, and power-play percentage.
The game is on Friday March 26th at 3pm in Albany and will be broadcast on ESPNU.
