The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 10, 2008 and concluded with the 2009 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament's championship game on April 11, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the season, five teams achieved the nation's #1 ranking, with Boston University finishing the season as the top-ranked team after winning the national championship tournament. This was the 62nd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 115th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.
Season Outlook Pre-season polls
The top teams in the nation as ranked before the start of the season.
The U.S. College Hockey Online/CBS College Sports Network poll was voted on by coaches, media, and NHL scouts. The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll was voted on by coaches and media.
College Sports Television was acquired by CBS in 2008 and rebranded CBS College Sports Network. The network stopped sponsoring the USCHO poll after the end of the season. USCHO PollRankTeam1 Boston College (36)2 Michigan (5)3 Colorado College (7)4 Notre Dame (1)5 North Dakota (1)6 Denver7 New Hampshire8 Miami9 Boston University10 Minnesota11 Michigan State12 Princeton13 Clarkson14 Wisconsin15 St. Cloud State16 Northern Michigan17 Cornell18 Minnesota State19 Harvard20 Vermont USA Today PollRankTeam1 Boston College (27)2 Michigan (4)3 Notre Dame4 North Dakota (1)5 Colorado College (2)6 Denver7 New Hampshire8 Miami9 Minnesota10 Boston University11 Clarkson12 Michigan State13 Wisconsin14 Northern Michigan15 St. Cloud State
Regular season
Season format Beginning in 2008–09, a shootout is used to determine CCHA conference games that end in a tie. Shootout losers receive one point and an addition to their total number of ties. Shootout winners receive one point and an addition to their total number of ties, and as a bonus, receive one bonus point and an addition to their total number of shootout wins.
Season tournaments Tournament Dates Teams Champion Ice Breaker Tournament October 10–11 4 Boston University Superior Cup October 10–11 4 Minnesota-Duluth Kendall Hockey Classic October 10–11 4 Alaska Mutual of Omaha Stampede October 17–18 4 Nebraska-Omaha Brice Alaska Goal Rush October 17–18 4 Alaska-Anchorage Governor's Cup October 24–25 4 Union Showcase at Brown October 31–November 1 4 Rensselaer Holiday Tournament November 28–29 4 Mercyhurst College Hockey Showcase November 28–29 4 Badger Showdown December 27–28 4 Wisconsin Florida College Classic December 27–28 4 Cornell Great Lakes Invitational December 27–28 4 Michigan Ledyard Bank Classic December 28–29 4 Dartmouth UConn Hockey Classic December 29–30 4 Quinnipiac Dodge Holiday Classic January 2–3 4 Minnesota Denver Cup January 2–3 4 Boston University Ohio Hockey Classic January 2–3 4 Ohio State Catamount Cup January 2–3 4 Vermont Shillelagh Tournament January 2–3 4 Notre Dame Beanpot February 2–9 4 Boston University
Standings
2009 NCAA tournament
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Player stats
Scoring leaders The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Class Team GP G A Pts PIM Senior Quinnipiac 39 12 47 59 20 Sophomore Boston University 43 17 38 55 42 Junior Air Force 41 33 20 53 28 Senior Minnesota–Duluth 43 26 24 50 50 Sophomore Mercyhurst 40 22 28 50 10 Sophomore Boston University 44 18 32 50 42 Sophomore Michigan 39 13 37 50 24 Sophomore Michigan 41 24 25 49 28 Sophomore St. Cloud State 38 17 31 48 66 Sophomore Minnesota–Duluth 43 15 33 48 44 Senior Boston University 42 14 34 48 50
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player Class Team GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA Senior Alaska 35 2,062:29 14 16 5 57 6 .940 1.66 Senior Notre Dame 39 2,326:20 30 6 3 65 8 .931 1.68 Junior Cornell 36 2,152:50 22 10 4 65 7 .931 1.81 Junior Princeton 34 2,041:37 22 10 1 62 2 .932 1.82 Freshman Boston University 35 2,072:48 29 2 3 67 3 .921 1.94 Junior Air Force 41 2,502:37 28 11 2 82 6 .920 1.97 Sophomore Michigan 31 1,792:43 24 6 0 59 3 .914 1.97 Senior Yale 25 1,458:13 19 5 1 50 4 .923 2.06 Junior Massachusetts–Lowell 19 1,106:15 9 8 1 38 3 .916 2.06 Freshman Miami 23 1,349:53 13 5 3 47 2 .904 2.09
Awards
NCAA Award RecipientHobey Baker Award Matt Gilroy, Boston UniversitySpencer T. Penrose Award Jack Parker, Boston UniversityNational Rookie of the Year Kieran Millan, Boston UniversityDerek Hines Unsung Hero Award Mike Phillipich, Air ForceLowe's Senior CLASS Award Jeff Lerg, Michigan StateTournament Most Outstanding Player Colby Cohen, Boston UniversityAHCA All-American Teams East First Team Position West First TeamBrad Thiessen, Northeastern GAlex Stalock, Minnesota–DuluthMatt Gilroy, Boston University DIan Cole, Notre DameZach Miskovic, St. Lawrence DJamie McBain, WisconsinDavid McIntyre, Colgate FLouie Caporusso, MichiganViktor Stalberg, Vermont FAaron Palushaj, MichiganColin Wilson, Boston University FRyan Stoa, Minnesota East Second Team Position West Second TeamZane Kalemba, Princeton GChad Johnson, AlaskaMaury Edwards, Massachusetts–Lowell DChay Genoway, North DakotaKevin Shattenkirk, Boston University DErik Gustafsson, Northern MichiganMark Arcobello, Yale FCarter Camper, MiamiJacques Lamoureux, Air Force FErik Condra, Notre DameJames Marcou, Massachusetts FChad Rau, Colorado College
Atlantic Hockey Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Jacques Lamoureux, Air ForceBest Defensive Forward Anthony Canzoneri, BentleyBest Defenseman Greg Flynn, Air ForceRookie of the Year David Kostuch, CanisiusRegular Season Goaltending Award Andrew Volkening, Air ForceCoach of the Year Ryan Soderquist, BentleyMost Valuable Player in Tournament Matt Fairchild, Air ForceIndividual Sportsmanship Anthony Canzoneri, BentleyRegular Season Scoring Trophy Jacques Lamoureux, Air ForceAll-Atlantic Hockey Teams First Team Position Second TeamAndrew Volkening, Air Force GRyan Zapolski, MercyhurstGreg Flynn, Air Force DBobby Raymond, RITZach McKelvie, Army DSean Erickson, ConnecticutDan Ringwald, RIT DJacques Lamoureux, Air Force FDain Prewitt, BentleyOwen Meyer, Army FSteve Cameron, MercyhurstBrennan Sarazin, RIT FMatt Pierce, Mercyhurst Third Team Position Rookie TeamKyle Rank, Bentley GKyle Rank, BentleyAl Mazur, RIT DMarcel Alvarez, ArmyCarl Hudson, Canisius DScott Mathis, Air ForceMatt Fairchild, Bentley FDavid Kostuch, CanisiusJason Weeks, Canisius FPhil Ginand, MercyhurstScott Pitt, Mercyhurst FTyler Brenner, RIT
CCHA Awards RecipientPlayer of the Year Chad Johnson, AlaskaBest Defensive Forward Tim Miller, MichiganBest Defensive Defenseman Kyle Lawson, Notre DameBest Offensive Defenseman Erik Gustafsson, Northern MichiganRookie of the Year David Wohlberg, MichiganBest Goaltender Chad Johnson, AlaskaCoach of the Year Dallas Ferguson, AlaskaTerry Flanagan Memorial Award Erik Condra, Notre DameIlitch Humanitarian Award Jeff Lerg, Michigan State Jerad Kaufmann, Nebraska-OmahaPerani Cup Champion Chad Johnson, AlaskaScholar-Athlete of the Year Jordan Pearce, Notre DameMost Valuable Player in Tournament Jordan Pearce, Notre DameAll-CCHA Teams First Team Position Second Team Chad Johnson, Alaska GJeff Lerg, Michigan StateErik Gustafsson, Northern Michigan DKyle Lawson, Notre DameIan Cole, Notre Dame DEddie DelGrosso, Nebraska-OmahaCarter Camper, Miami FErik Condra, Notre DameAaron Palushaj, Michigan FChristian Hanson, Notre DameLouie Caporusso, Michigan FPatrick Galivan, Western Michigan Rookie Team Position Connor Knapp, Miami GChris Wideman, Miami DMatt Bartkowski, Ohio State DBrandon Burlon, Michigan DZac Dalpe, Ohio State FBilly Maday, Notre Dame FDavid Wohlberg, Michigan F
CHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Juliano Pagliero, NiagaraRookie of the Year Brad Hunt, Bemidji StateCoach of the Year Tom Serratore, Bemidji StateStudent-Athlete of the Year Vince Rocco, NiagaraMost Valuable Player in Tournament Matt Read, Bemidji StateAll-CHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamJuliano Pagliero, Niagara GMatt Dalton, Bemidji StateDenny Urban, Robert Morris DTyler Gotto, NiagaraBrad Hunt, Bemidji State DCody Bostock, Bemidji StateMatt Read, Bemidji State FTyler Scofield, Bemidji StateChris Margott, Robert Morris FVince Rocco, NiagaraNathan Longpre, Robert Morris FEgor Mironov, Niagara Rookie Team Position Brooks Ostergard, Robert Morris GJames Lyle, Robert Morris DBrad Hunt, Bemidji State DDan Baco, Niagara FCody Campbell, Alabama-Huntsville FBen Kinne, Bemidji State F
ECAC Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Zane Kalemba, PrincetonRookie of the Year Jody O'Neill, DartmouthTim Taylor Award Keith Allain, YaleBest Defensive Forward Tyler Mugford, CornellBest Defensive Defenseman Matt Generous, St. LawrenceKen Dryden Award Zane Kalemba, PrincetonStudent-Athlete of the Year Matt Cook, UnionMost Outstanding Player in Tournament Sean Backman, YaleAll-ECAC Hockey Teams First Team Position Second Team Zane Kalemba, Princeton GBen Scrivens, CornellLane Caffaro, Union DTom Dignard, YaleZach Miskovic, St. Lawrence DBrendon Nash, CornellMark Arcobello, Yale FBryan Leitch, QuinnipiacRiley Nash, Cornell FColin Greening, CornellDavid McIntyre, Colgate FBrett Wilson, Princeton Third Team Position Rookie TeamAlec Richards, Yale GJody O'Neill, DartmouthAlex Biega, Harvard DJeff Buvinow, BrownJody Peterson, Princeton DKeir Ross, CornellBrock McBride, St. Lawrence FPatrick Cullen, RensselaerBroc Little, Yale FDoug Jones, DartmouthAdam Presizniuk, Union FBrian O'Neill, Yale
Hockey East Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Brad Thiessen, NortheasternRookie of the Year Kieran Millan, Boston UniversityBob Kullen Coach of the Year Award Greg Cronin, NortheasternLen Ceglarski Award Dean Strong, VermontBest Defensive Forward Joe Vitale, NortheasternBest Defensive Defenseman Louis Liotti, NortheasternThree-Stars Award Brad Thiessen, NortheasternWilliam Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Kieran Millan, Boston UniversityAll-Hockey East Teams First Team Position Second TeamBrad Thiessen, Northeastern GKieran Millan, Boston UniversityMatt Gilroy, Boston University DJustin Braun, MassachusettsMaury Edwards, Massachusetts-Lowell DKevin Shattenkirk, Boston UniversityColin Wilson, Boston University FBrock Bradford, Boston CollegeViktor Stålberg, Vermont FRyan Ginand, NortheasternJames Marcou, Massachusetts FJames van Riemsdyk, New Hampshire Rookie Team Position Kieran Millan, Boston University GKarl Stollery, Merrimack DChris Connolly, Boston University DGustav Nyquist, Maine FSteve Quailer, Northeastern FCasey Wellman, Massachusetts FDavid Vallorani, Massachusetts-Lowell F
WCHA