Cincinnati's Desharnais Named ECHL Rookie of the Year

[VodkaFish]

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL on Sunday announced that Cincinnati forward David Desharnais is the recipient of the CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year award for 2007-08.

The award is presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the ECHL as voted by the coaches of the ECHL teams.

Josh Soares of Alaska finished second while Oren Eizenman of Fresno was third and Anton Khudobin of Texas and Travis Morin of South Carolina tied for fourth.

Desharnais was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team on Thursday and First Team All-ECHL on Friday. He led the ECHL with 77 assists, 39 power-play assists and 106 points while his plus-minus rating of +38 led league rookies and is second overall.

His 106 points is the most scored by a rookie since 1996-97 when Dany Bousquet of Pee Dee had 107 points (54g-53a) in 68 games. He is only the fourth rookie in 20 years 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). The 21 year old is 10th on the list of 16 rookies who have scored 100 points.

Desharnais was named Vector CCM Rookie of the Month in November, February and March. He set the ECHL record with an 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 has already broken the team record of 75 points by 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.

Plus Performer of the Year and the Leading Scorer awards will be announced Monday.

ECHL Rookie of the Year Winners
2007-08 David Desharnais, Cincinnati Cyclones
2006-07 Colton Fretter, Gwinnett Gladiators
2005-06 Alex Leavitt, Alaska Aces
2004-05 Joe Tenute, South Carolina Stingrays
2003-04 Kevin Doell, Gwinnett Gladiators
2002-03 Jason Jaffray, Roanoke Express
2001-02 Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators
2000-01 Scott Stirling, Trenton Titans
1999-00 Jan Lasak, Hampton Roads Admirals
1998-99 Maxime Gingras, Richmond Renegades
1997-98 Sean Venedam, Toledo Storm
1996-97 Dany Bousquet, Birmingham Bulls
1995-96 Keli Corpse, Wheeling Thunderbirds
1994-95 Kevin McKinnon, Erie Panthers
1993-94 Dan Gravelle, Greensboro Monarchs
1992-93 Joe Flanagan, Birmingham Bulls
1991-92 Darren Colbourne, Dayton Bombers
1990-91 Dan Gauthier, Knoxville Cherokees
1989-90 Bill McDougall, Erie Panthers
1988-89 Tom Sasso, Johnstown Chiefs