April 12, 2008

DENVER, CO - Junior defenseman Tyler Eckford of the Alaska Nanooks hockey team was tabbed as a RBK West All-American, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced Friday night (April 11), becoming the first skater in program history to earn first team All-American honors.

Named an assistant captain prior to the season, Eckford led his team for the majority of the season with career highs in goals (8), assists (23) and points (31), finishing second overall after playing in all 35 games for the Nanooks. His point total is third in the nation among defensemen, while his points per game average (0.89) is tied for second. He topped off his stellar season being the first Alaska skater to be named to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's All-Conference First Team.

Eckford tallied at least one point in all 17 series during the season, including five multi-point efforts and two four-game scoring streaks. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association's leading scorer for defensemen with 5-18-23 totals in 28 conference games, Eckford was named the league's Best Offensive Defenseman: also a program first.

A New Jersey Devils' draft pick throughout his three-year career with the Nanooks, Eckford elected to forego his senior season of collegiate eligibility and sign a pro contract with the NHL club last month.

Prior to Eckford, Dean Fedorchuk, a 1994 Second-Team selection, is the Nanooks' only other All-American player in the program's 28 years.

2007-2008 RBK Hockey Division I All-American Teams

First Team

West

G Richard Bachman, Fr., Colorado College (Highlands Ranch, CO)
D Tyler Eckford, Jr., Alaska (Langley, BC)
D Jack Hillen, Sr., Colorado College (Minnetonka, MN)
F Ryan Jones, Sr., Miami (Chatham, ON)
F T.J. Oshie, Jr., North Dakota (Warroad, MN)
F Kevin Porter, Sr., Michigan (Northville, MI)

East

G Kevin Regan, Sr., New Hampshire (South Boston, MA)
D Matt Gilroy, Jr., Boston University (North Bellemore, NY)
D Mike Moore, Sr., Princeton (Calgary, AB)
F Mike Radja, Sr., New Hampshire (Yorkville, IL)
F Lee Jubinville, Jr., Princeton (Edmonton, AB)
F Nathan Gerbe, Jr., Boston College (Oxford, MI)

Second Team All-American

West

G Jeff Lerg, Jr., Michigan State (Livonia, MI)
D Chris Butler, Jr., Denver (St. Louis, MO)
D Alec Martinez, Jr., Miami (Rochester, MI)
F Chad Rau, Jr., Colorado College (Eden Prairie, MN)
F Chad Kolarik, Sr., Michigan (Abington, PA)
F Ryan Lasch, So., St. Cloud State (Lake Forest, CA)

East

G Josh Kassel, Jr., Army (Greensburg, PA)
D Grant Clitsome, Sr., Clarkson (Gloucester, ON)
D Brad Flaishans, Sr., New Hampshire (Glendale, AZ)
F Bryan Ewing, Sr., Boston University (Plymouth, MA)
F Peter MacArthur, Sr., Boston University (Clifton Park, NY)
F Matt Fornataro, Sr., New Hampshire (Calgary, AB)