The online organization Inside College Hockey announced Friday that UW junior goaltender Brian Elliott was named first-team All-American, while senior defenseman Tom Gilbert and sophomore forward Joe Pavelski were named to the second team.
Elliott was recently named one of three finalists for the 2006 Hobey Baker Award. He leads the nation in every goaltending category, including a .803 winning percentage (25-5-3), a 1.55 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, while his eight shutouts are tied for the national lead. With the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player and 2006 WCHA goaltending champion already under his belt, Elliott is in the midst of a 252:15 shutout streak that includes three straight shutouts.
Gilbert earned first-team All-WCHA honors in 2006 and was also named to the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team. Considered the Badgers' top defenseman, Gilbert leads a UW defense which has allowed just 1.85 goals against per game. Gilbert is tied for second nationally among defenders with 11 goals.
Pavelski, a second-team All-WCHA pick in 2006, finished fourth in the league scoring race with 39 points and is the Badgers' leading scorer with 53 points, tying him for third among WCHA players. He was also named to the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional All Tournament, leading the Badgers in scoring, including a hat trick against Bemidji State in the regional semifinal.
Meanwhile, head coach Mike Eaves was named one of 11 finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the top NCAA Division I men's hockey coach by the American Hockey Coaches Association.
—uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
