SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State junior Kevin Czuczman, who recently finished a stint with the New York Islanders, was named most-valuable defenseman and most-valuable player during the 32^nd annual Soo BlueLiners Banquet held Thursday at the Cisler Center.

The evening was dedicated to LSSU seniors Kevin Murdock, Zach Sternberg, Dan Radke, Kevin Kapalka, Niels-Erik Ravn, Colin Campbell, Matt Bruneteau and Andrew Perrault, along with Czuczman, who will also graduate this weekend. The nine players gave their traditional senior speeches, and assistants Tim Christian and Doug Laprade represented the coaching staff. Soo BlueLiners president Howard Ledergerber and his wife, Chris, hosted the event for the final time. They announced their retirement as heads of the booster organization for more than a decade.

Campbell and Bruneteau were not in attendance due to their professional commitments to the Grand Rapids Griffins and Greenville Road Warriors, who are still alive in the Calder Cup and Kelly Cup playoffs.

Dr. Rick Bruneteau spoke on behalf of his son, Matt, and noted how the Lakers' captain regretted missing his final official gathering with his team.

"The guys who are most important to him are his teammates, and it's very hard for him to not be here," he said. "He will leave a little of himself in Sault Ste. Marie, but take a lot of you guys with him."

Radke echoed similar sentiments, saying "college is the best four years of your life because of the people you share it with."

All of the players dispensed heart-felt thanks to many who have helped them along the way, saving the most sincere words for their parents. 

Czuczman (Port Elgin, Ont.) played 13 games with the Islanders following the conclusion of the 2013-14 LSSU season. The Lakers have not had a player make the sudden jump to the NHL since Doug Weight signed with the New York Rangers in 1990. Czuczman totaled 14 goals and 31 assists during his three-year LSSU career. His 10 goals this season led the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and tied for third in the nation among defensemen. He is a two-time winner of LSSU's most-valauble defenseman award and was named to the All-WCHA Second Team.

LSSU's other major award winners were Sternberg (Gay Blade Award), junior Andrew Dommett (most-improved), Alex Globke (outstanding freshman), Kapalka (Scholar-Athlete Award), Campbell (most-valuable forward) and Bruneteau (Jim Howie Unsung Hero Award and Soo BlueLiners Award).

The Gay Blade Award is presented to the “team comedian” or the player who can make the best of the toughest situations. Sternberg (Toronto, Ont.) is a three-time winner of the award. In addition to providing an uplifting spirit, he finished second on the team in defenseman scoring with 5-11—16 and was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for his performance during LSSU's sweep at Union. In 121 collegiate games Sternberg totaled 11-30—41.

"The first time I crossed the border here, the border patrol guy told me I was pretty small to be a defensemen," said Sternberg at the beginning of his monologue.

He later added, "I must be a 'Good Luck Chuck.' Two of my roommates have played in the NHL, so I expect a lot out of Dommett and Ciotti next year."

Sternberg

Dommett (Major, Sask.) emerged as a terrific scoring threat, picking up two goals and an assist during the first three games of the season. After missing three series due to injury, he returned against Alaska Anchorage to score the winning goal in the 5-3 series-opening victory. Prior to last season he had a career total of two goals and two assists in 34 games. He finished this season with six goals and three assists in 30 games, and tallied six points in league play.

Dommett

This year's outstanding freshman set a torrid scoring pace, scoring a goal on his first shot on net as a Laker and also picking up an assist against Robert Morris in the season opener. Globke (Waterford, Mich.) was named WCHA Rookie of the Week following the season-opening weekend sweep. He totaled 7-8--15 through his first 12 collegiate games. Overall on the season he compiled 12 goals and 19 assists for a team-leading 31 points, leading all WCHA freshmen and ranking 11^th nationally in rookie scoring. He also ranked 15^th in overall league scoring. He is only the second Laker in LSSU history to win league rookie of the year honors (with the other being Steve Mulholland in 1980). He also received the Terry McDermott Award, which goes to LSSU's top male and female freshmen athletes.

Globke

Kapalka (Mississauga, Ont.) was a 2013-14 WCHA Scholar-Athlete and was LSSU's second-ranked senior athlete academically. Last season he was LSSU's nominee for the prestigious CCHA Scholar-Athlete Award. He graduates this spring with a 3.76 grade point average in finance and economics. This season the standout goaltender was named to the All-WCHA Third Team after ranking second in the league in save percentage and seventh in goals-against. He moved up to third in LSSU career saves with 3,163 and second in career save percentage at .921. He is also sixth in career wins with 45.

Kapalka

The Most Valuable Forward Award went to a player who fought back from injuries to become one of the WCHA's most-prolific scoring threats. As a sophomore, Campbell (Pickering, Ont.) finished third on the team in points after scoring nine goals and 25 points. As a junior he missed 30 games due to injury but returned to the lineup in February to contribute two assists during his first three games. This season, the 6-1, 203-pound forward led the team in goals with 14 and finished third in assists with 15. He also tied for 13^th in the WCHA in goal scoring and tied for 19^th in power-play goals. He recently signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings organization.

"Colin and I have been together for six years," Kapalka said of his juniors and college teammate and best friend. "He doesn't waste a single day away."

Campbell

Bruneteau (Omaha, Neb.) is receiving the Jim Howie Unsung Hero Award for the third time, and he was also named the Soo BlueLiners Award winner. The Lakers' captain led the team in blocked shots each of the past three seasons and finished his Laker career with a total of 313 blocked shots. All three of his career goals were game winners. Bruneteau was the WCHA's nominee for the national Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award.

Bruneteau

“No one has ever blocked so many shots for me and put their body on the line like him,” said Kapalka of Bruneteau's selflessness. “Even in practice when we do PK work, he will still block slap shots. He plays a very unselfish game, but his type of game doesn't get recognized because he doesn't score the flashy goal or make the beautiful back door pass to win the game. His stats aren't something the common hockey fan would look at or even appreciate, but as a team and especially as a goalie, it means everything to us what he does.”