Frozen Four: Irish hand out team awards

Michigan has its awards banquet on Saturday, Notre Dame on Sunday. Seems a little unusual to do so before the season ends, but maybe neither team was planning on being in the Frozen Four.

The irish MVP was freshman forward T.J. Tynan. No surprise. He led Notre Dame in scoring with 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points. He also was the CCHA rookie of the year.

Irish players voted Anders Lee, another freshman, their co-rookie of the year along with Tynan. That is a little surprising to an outsider. Lee, though, had a great first year, too. He led the Irish in goals with 24 and had 20 assists for 44 points, second on the team and fourth in the nation among freshmen. Tynan was the top scorer among first-year players in Division I.

Lee, of course, is from Edina. Played his junior and senior years of high school hockey for the Hornets. Was at St. Thomas Academy before that.

Senior forward Calle Ridderwall of Sweden was named the student-athlete of the year. He has a 3.41 gpa.

Junior defenseman Sean Lorenz was picked the top defenseman. He has a plus-29 ranking, tops in the CCHA.

Senior winger Ryan Guentzel of Woodbury was named the unsung hero on the team.

UMD WATCH PARTIES

There will be UMD watch parties at all four Joe Senser's Sports Grills in Bloomington, Eagan, Plymouth and Roseville, starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday. All will include Bulldog giveaways.

There is also a pregame party at 317 on Rice Park -- a classy event center -- from 2 to 4 p.m., but to attend you had to already reserve a spot.

For more info on activities for UMD fans and alumni, go to http://www.d.umn.edu/alumni/

... BULLDOGS TICKETS SOLD FAST

MICHIGAN PRE-GAME PARTY

Fans and alumni of Michigan will gather at Pat McGovern's Pub, 225 7th St. W., in downtown St. Paul from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The Wolverines play North Dakota at 7:30 p.m. at the nearby X.