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COLBY COHEN First-team All-American |
Frozen Four notebook
Geoffrion makes name for himself
DETROIT — Blake Geoffrion comes from a long line of stellar hockey players.
His father Danny Geoffrion, his grandfather Bernie “Boom Boom’’ Geoffrion, and his great-grandfather Howie Morenz all played for the Montreal Canadiens. His grandfather was credited with making the slap shot popular and he won six Stanley Cups. His great-grandfather won three Cups and is one of just seven Canadiens to have his number (7) retired. Both are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Blake, a senior at Wisconsin, added another chapter to the family legacy when he was named the recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top collegiate player who exhibits character both on and off the ice. He became the first Badger to take home the honor.
The other two finalists were New Hampshire’s Bobby Butler and Maine’s Gustav Nyquist.
Geoffrion said he returned to school for his senior season not only because he wanted to earn a degree but because he wanted the opportunity to win a national championship, which he will be going for tonight against Boston College at
“Looking back on my decision to come back, I knew that we had a good team,’’ said Geoffrion, who was accompanied to the announcement by parents as well as his Badger teammates and coaches. “We were big in depth and a big, strong veteran team. I knew we had something special brewing when everyone pretty much stayed. I’m pumped. I’m so happy to win this award and I can’t thank my teammates enough. I wouldn’t be here without them.’’
Geoffrion said he was thrilled to be the first player from the school to win it.
“There are some great names who have come through Wisconsin,’’ he said. “Coach [Mike] Eaves, Mark Johnson, Dany Heatley, [Brian] Rafalski, both Suters [Gary and Ryan], I don’t think I’d put myself in that category but it’s an honor to win the award and I’m just happy to bring this award back to the Wisco family and we’re all going to enjoy it.’’
Geoffrion said he didn’t feel pressure to live up to the family name.
“I got a little something, I wouldn’t say it’s close to what they accomplished,’’ he said. “My grandfather and great grandfather are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I don’t think this even compares to what they have even accomplished in their hockey careers. But I love my father to death and I’m very proud of what they’ve done.’’
They’re honored
In addition to the Hobey Baker, the Division 1 men’s All-Americans were announced. On the first team East were goalie Ben Scrivens of Cornell, defensemen Colby Cohen of Boston University and Brendon Nash of Cornell and forwards Chase Polacek of Rensselaer, Butler and Nyquist. In the West, it was goalie Marc Cheverie of Denver, defensemen Brendan Smith of Wisconsin and Patrick Weircioch of Denver and forwards Geoffrion, Mark Olver of Northern Michigan, and Rhett Rakhshani of Denver. The second team East had goalie Brian Foster of UNH, defensemen Justin Braun of UMass and Blake Kessel of UNH and forwards Sean Backman and Broc Little of Yale and Nick Johnson of Sacred Heart . . . Merrimack freshman Stephane Da Costa earned the National Division 1 Rookie of the Year and Brown’s Jordan Pietrus was named winner of the fourth annual Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. Ethan Cox of Colgate was named the recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award . . . No Westwood One stations in Boston are carrying the BC-Wisconsin game tonight, but it will be streamed on BCEagles.com and NCAA.com and also can be heard on Ch. 122 on Sirius and 143 on XM.
© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.
