Cincinnati's Desharnais Is ECHL MVP

[VodkaFish]

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL on Friday announced that Cincinnati Cyclones rookie David Desharnais has been named the CCM Vector Most Valuable Player for 2007-08.

Desharnais becomes only the fifth rookie in the 20-year history of the league to be named MVP and the first since Frederic Cloutier in 2001-02. He has already been named Rookie of the Year and was selected to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and First Team All-ECHL.

The 21 year old led the ECHL with 106 points in 68 games, the most points scored by a rookie since 1996-97 when Dany Bousquet of Pee Dee had 107 points (54g-53a). He was only the fourth rookie ever to lead the ECHL in scoring joining Alex Leavitt of Alaska (91 points in 2005-06), Daryl Harpe of Erie (122 points in 1988-89) and Bill McDougall of Erie (148 points in 1989-90). He is 10th on the list of 16 rookies who have reached 100 points. He also led the league with 77 assists and 39 power-play assists and led ECHL rookies and ranked second overall in plus-minus rating with +38.

Jeff Campbell of Gwinnett, who was named First Team All-ECHL and also received the Sportsmanship Award, finished second in the voting followed by Anton Khudobin of Texas, who was selected as Goaltender of the Year while also being chosen to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and First Team All-ECHL. Peter Ferraro of Las Vegas, who was captain of the National Conference for the ECHL All-Star Game, finished fourth followed by John McNabb of Texas, who was Second Team All-ECHL and was captain for the American Conference in the All-Star Game.

Desharnais was named Rookie of the Month in November, February and March. He set the ECHL record with an assist in assist in 20 consecutive games from Jan. 5-Feb. 29 and he had the fourth-longest scoring streak in league history with 27 games from Dec. 31, 2007-Mar. 12, 2008. He broke the team record of 75 points by Sheldon Gorski in 1997-98 and Matt Noga in 2002-03 and the club mark of 51 assists by Noga in 2002-03. He was selected to the ECHL All-Star Game after scoring 27 points (6g-21a) in 22 games. He is under AHL contract to Hamilton and has one assist and six penalty minutes in four games with the Bulldogs.

CCM Vector Most Valuable Player Award Winners
2007-08 David Desharnais, Cincinnati Cyclones (Rookie)
2006-07 Brad Schell, Gwinnett Gladiators
2005-06 Jeff Campbell, Gwinnett Gladiators
2004-05 Scott Gomez, Alaska Aces
2003-04 Scott Stirling, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
2002-03 Buddy Smith, Arkansas RiverBlades
2001-02 Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators (Rookie)
2000-01 Scott King, Charlotte Checkers
1999-00 Andrew Williamson, Toledo Storm
1998-99 Chris Valicevic, Louisiana IceGators
1997-98 Jamey Hicks, Birmingham Bulls
1996-97 Mike Ross, South Carolina Stingrays
1995-96 Hugo Belanger, Nashville Knights (Rookie)
1994-95 Vadim Slivchenko, Wheeling Thunderbirds
1993-94 Joe Flanagan, Birmingham Bulls
1992-93 Trevor Jobe, Nashville Knights
1991-92 Phil Berger, Greensboro Monarchs
1990-91 Stan Drulia, Knoxville Cherokees
1989-90 Bill McDougall, Erie Panthers (Rookie)
1988-89 Daryl Harpe, Erie Panthers (Rookie)