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April 11, 2006
Enrico Blasi |
For his efforts in leading the RedHawks of Miami University to the CCHA regular season title, Enrico Blasi has
been chosen winner of the 2006 Spencer Penrose Award as Division I Men’s Coach of the Year. The Red and
White went 26-9-4, capturing the school’s second regular season championship and, for the first time, being
ranked #1 in the country during the season. This is the first such honor for Blasi and the second for Miami, who
claimed the award in 1993 when George Gwozdecky, now at Denver, was coaching at Miami.
A 1994 graduate of Miami, Blasi began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Wexford Raiders
junior team in 1994. He served as an assistant coach to George Gwozdecky at Denver for four years before he
was named head coach at his alma mater in 1999 at the age of 27.
Blasi became the winningest coach in Miami history with his 26 victories this season, giving him 130 wins in
seven seasons, surpasing the previous mark of 121 set by Steve Cady from 1978-1985. Blasi’s career record is
130-116-23. This season, CCHA coaches voted him CCHA Coach of the Year, the third time he has received the
honor in just seven seasons as a head coach.
As a player, Blasi led a revival at Miami, scoring 123 career points, leading his squad to its first league title,
and serving as captain of the 1993-94 squad. A native of Weston, Ontario, Blasi earned a bachelor’s degree in
physical education.
The runners-up for this year’s AHCA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year award were Mike Eaves of the
University of Wisconsin, Jack Parker of Boston University, and Jerry York of Boston College.
Other finalists for this year’s award were Dave Burkholder, Niagara; Bob Gaudet, Dartmouth; Dave Hakstol,
North Dakota; Don Lucia, Minnesota; Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State University; Brian Riley, Army; and
Tim Whitehead, Maine.
The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor
Hotel Complex, site of the first ten NCAA championship hockey tournaments. It will be presented at the AHCA
Coach of the Year Banquet in Naples, Florida, on Saturday evening, April 29.
Winners of the Spencer Penrose Award
(Division I Coach of the Year) |
| 1951 |
Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth |
|
1979 |
Charlie Holt, New Hampshire |
| 1952 |
Cheddy Thompson, Colorado College |
|
1980 |
Rick Comley, Northern Michigan |
| 1953 |
John Mariucci, Minnesota |
|
1981 |
Bill O'Flaherty, Clarkson |
| 1954 |
Vic Heyliger, Michigan |
|
1982 |
Ferny Flaman, Northeastern |
| 1955 |
Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard |
|
1983 |
Bill Cleary, Harvard |
| 1956 |
William Harrison, Clarkson |
|
1984 |
Mike Sertich, Minnesota-Duluth |
| 1957 |
Jack Riley, Army |
|
1985 |
Len Ceglarski, Boston College |
| 1958 |
Harry Cleverly, Boston University |
|
1986 |
Ralph Backstrom, Denver |
| 1959 |
John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College |
|
1987 |
John "Gino" Gasparini, North Dakota |
| 1960 |
Jack Riley, Army |
|
1988 |
Frank Anzalone, Lake Superior |
| 1961 |
Murray Armstrong, Denver |
|
1989 |
Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence |
| 1962 |
Jack Kelley, Colby |
|
1990 |
Terry Slater, Colgate |
| 1963 |
Tony Frasca, Colorado College |
|
1991 |
Rick Comley, Northern Michigan |
| 1964 |
Tom Eccleston, Jr., Providence |
|
1992 |
Ron Mason, Michigan State |
| 1965 |
Jim Fullerton, Brown |
|
1993 |
George Gwozdecky, Miami |
| 1966 |
Amo Bessone, Michigan State
Len Ceglarski, Clarkson |
|
1994 |
Don Lucia, Colorado College |
| 1967 |
Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth |
|
1995 |
Shawn Walsh, Maine |
| 1968 |
Ned Harkness, Cornell |
|
1996 |
Bruce Crowder, UMass Lowell |
| 1969 |
Charlie Holt, New Hampshire |
|
1997 |
Dean Blais, North Dakota |
| 1970 |
John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech |
|
1998 |
Tim Taylor, Yale |
| 1971 |
Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard |
|
1999 |
Richard Umile, New Hampshire |
| 1972 |
John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College |
|
2000 |
Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence |
| 1973 |
Len Ceglarski, Boston College |
|
2001 |
Dean Blais, North Dakota |
| 1974 |
Charlie Holt, New Hampshire |
|
2002 |
Tim Whitehead, Maine |
| 1975 |
Jack Parker, Boston University |
|
2003 |
Bob Daniels, Ferris State |
| 1976 |
John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech |
|
2004 |
Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth |
| 1977 |
Jerry York, Clarkson |
|
2005 |
George Gwozdecky, Denver |
| 1978 |
Jack Parker, Boston University |
|
2006 |
Enrico Blasi, Miami |
|
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