DETROIT The Academy Awards may not be for another week, but this past Thursday night at the Fox Theater, the CCHA put on a show with all of the glitz of the Oscars.
- Paul Wong
- CCHA All-Rookie team selection Mike Komisarek sticks it to Nebraska-Omaha”s James Chalmers in Michigan”s 3-2 victory Friday night<br><br>DAVID KATZ/Daily
At the CCHA Awards, players and coaches from the conference were recognized and rewarded for a season full of hard work and heated competition in a night that kicked off the CCHA Championship Weekend.
For the Michigan players, the evening brought no new accolades, as the only recognition that the Wolverines were in awards announced earlier in the week.
Defenseman Mike Komisarek was named to the All-Rookie team and Jeff Jillson to the All-Academic team. Jillson was also named to the All-Conference first team, along with sophomore forwards Andy Hilbert and Mike Cammalleri. Goalie Josh Blackburn was named to the second team.
“It”s such a great honor to be there with those players and be in the same company as those players,” Hilbert said. “Those are some great players up there and I was just really honored to be up there.”
While no Wolverines won awards, several were nominated. Komisarek was a candidate for Rookie of the Year, Jillson up for Best Offensive Defenseman, Mike Roemensky for Best Defensive Defenseman and Hilbert for Player of the Year.
For Roemensky, the nomination was special since he was first added to the team at midseason last year.
“It was a huge honor for me,” Roemensky said. “I was a bit surprised. Nobody had told me I was up for that honor. I take a lot of pride in playing defense and that was a nice way of telling me that I”m doing well. Hopefully I can keep it up during these playoffs.”
Bad memories: The ghost of Lake Superior almost haunted Michigan again Friday night, when officials reviewed what they thought was a goal after the goal judge hadn”t indicated it as such.
This time, though, unlike Feb. 22 at Lake Superior when the goal was counted, replay proved inconclusive and the score stayed as it was.
“That wasn”t a goal,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said. “It was ridiculous to even think about reviewing it. There was nothing to review.”
Injury bug stings again: As has been the case all season, Michigan was hounded this weekend by untimely injuries.
In his first shift on Friday night, defenseman Andy Burnes took a hit to the head that knocked him down and sent him to the showers. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
“Especially with an injury to the head, you don”t want to mess around with it,” he said. “I”ve had a history of concussion problems so I”m just taking precautions.
“I”ve still got a pretty good headache right now.”
Burnes did not dress for Saturday night”s matchup with the Spartans.
Senior Josh Langfeld, one of Michigan”s most solid wingers lately and a renowned playoff performer, reinjured his knee on Saturday night.
The knee was first hurt on Feb. 17, in a game that was also at Joe Louis Arena and against Michigan State.
He played the first period but missed the next two. Still, Berenson expects him to be ready to play against Mercyhurst on Saturday.
Michigan appeared to be hampered by the injuries.
“Langfeld”s definitely a huge part of the team,” John Shouneyia said. “Burnes is too. He”s one of our best defenseman and not having them hurts our team.”