Finlandia’s
Travis Hanson Signs with Pros
HANCOCK
– Finlandia University senior Travis Hanson (Bark River, Mich.)
has been signed to play professional hockey for the Cincinnati Cyclones,
an East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) team affiliated with the NHL’s
National Predators and Montreal Canadiens.
“Cincinnati has brought Travis in the for playoff run,”
said Joe Burcar, Finlandia’s head men’s hockey coach.
“It’s a great opportunity for Travis to get his name
out there. Who knows where it’ll take him from here!”
Hanson, a center, has been captain of the Finlandia men’s
hockey team for the past two years. A business major, he has been
attending Finlandia and playing for the Lions since 2004. He graduated
from Escanaba (Michigan) High School.
Hanson has already begun practicing with the Cincinnati Cyclones.
He’ll likely play in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in early April,
and possibly sooner. The Cyclones have clinched this season’s
North Division title and are currently ranked first in the ECHL.
“We’re very proud of Travis,” Burcar said. “He
has worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. It’s well-deserved.”
Not only is Hanson an excellent athlete, he’s an outstanding
student, said assistant men’s hockey coach Ross Rinkinen.
In each of the past three years, Hanson earned a place on the Midwest
Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA) All-Academic Team.
Hanson is the sixth Finlandia University men’s hockey player
to be recruited to play professional hockey. Avery Wilson (’04),
who played for the Lions from 2000-2004, is a forward/defenseman
for the Cincinnati Cyclones. Others are Joe Welgos (’07) who
played for the Lions from 2003 to 2007; Bob Rangus who played in
2004-05, Pete Kolasa (’04) who played from 2000-2004; and
Pete Rouleau who played in 2003-04.
For additional information, please contact Coach Burcar at 906-487-7316
or joe.burcar@finlandia.edu.
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Lions
Cagers Named to D-III All-Independent Teams
HANCOCK
– Three Finlandia University men’s basketball student-athletes
have earned places on the 2008 Association of Division III Independents
First, Second and Third Teams.
Finlandia University senior Ryan Artley (Baraga, Mich.) was named
to the Association of Division III Independents First Team.
“Ryan had a great senior season,” said Charlie Kemppainen,
head men’s basketball coach. “He was our leading scorer
at 22 points per game and finished his career as the Finlandia men’s
all-time leading scorer with 1,657 points. His determination was
the asset that raised our level of play. I believe he could have
been considered for Independents Player of the Year.”
Finlandia senior Tucker Thoreson (Amasa, Mich.) was named to the
Association of Division III Independents Second Team.
“Tuck is one of the nicest and strongest players to ever put
on a Finlandia jersey,” said Kemppainen. “He was always
smaller than the guy he was playing, but I cannot recall anyone
physically stronger. He averaged 13.2 points per game and 6.5 rebounds
per game for us this season.”
Finlandia sophomore Tyler Gordon (Red Cliff, Wisc.) was named to
the Association of Division III Independents Third Team.
“Ty had a great season. By stats and team success, I felt
he should have been on the All-Independent First Team. He was our
second leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, second leading rebounder
at 5.3 rebounds per game, and, among all NCAA Division I, II, and
III schools, he led the nation in steals at four per game,”
said Kemppainen.
The All-Independent Men’s Basketball teams are selected by
the men’s basketball coaches from member schools of the Association
of Division III Independents.
The Finlandia University men’s basketball team finished this
year’s season 15-12. “We had some very good moments,”
Kemppainen noted. “The three players above had a huge part
in that and I am happy they have received some personal recognition.”
However, it would be unfair to credit these three alone for the
team’s success, Kemppainen added. Another player who deserves
a lot of credit is senior Shawn Wickersheim (White Lake, Wisc.),
he said.
“Shawn did so much for the team that doesn’t show up
on the stat sheet. His numbers may not attract much attention, but
the way he plays and his understanding of the game makes him a standout
player,” Kemppainen explained.
Next season, Kemppainen predicted, the Lions will see continued
contributions and improvements by sophomores Erik Bresette (Red
Cliff, Wis.), Lee Naugle (Chassell, Mich.), Mike Philippi (Gwinn,
Mich.), Anthony Robinson (Chicago, Ill.), and Tyler Gordon.
“These guys will have the opportunity to fill minutes left
by our departing seniors,” he said.
For additional information about the Finlandia University men’s
basketball program, please contact Coach Kemppainen at 906-487-7238.
If you would like photos of Artley, Thoreson, Gordon, or Kemppainen,
please contact karen.johnson@finlandia.edu
or 906-487-7348.
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Kudos
for Finlandia Soccer Players
HANCOCK
– Matt Griffith, Finlandia University fourth-year head soccer
coach, is pleased to announce spring university athletic awards
for the men’s and women’s teams. For their hard work
and dedication, the student-athletes received awards for Most Valuable
Player, Lion Award, Most Improved Player, and Academic Award.
The women’s soccer team MVP award went to Jessica Jones, a
sophomore from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Lion Award, granted to a
student-athlete who “gave their all” this season, was
earned by sophomore Molly Raab from Antigo, Wisc. The Most Improved
Player award is shared by Ashley Leitch, a senior from Garden City,
Mich., and sophomore Salome Mnzava from Tanzania. The Academic Award
winner is sophomore Robin Murphy of Howell, Mich., with a GPA of
3.69.
“We had a great year and all of the women worked hard throughout
the season,” Griffith said. “This is a talented group
of women that never stop to surprise me.”
The Finlandia men’s soccer team MVP award was earned by sophomore
Markus Halme from Finland. The Lion Award is shared by Shawn Wickersheim,
a senior from White Lake, Wisc., and junior Andrew Kirt of Gaylord,
Mich. The Most Improved Award was earned by freshman Andrew Blake
of Chassell, Mich. And, winning his second Academic Award this year
was Andrew Kirt of Gaylord, Mich., with a GPA of 3.96.
“Each and every one of the athletes gave everything they had
out on the field this year,” Griffith said. “The men
had their best season in Finlandia history to date. I am proud of
every single one of them.”
For additional information about the men’s and women’s
soccer program at Finlandia University, please contact Coach Griffith
at 906-487-7326 or matt.griffith@finlandia.edu.
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Six
from Finlandia on NCHA Academic Team
HANCOCK
– Six Finlandia University women’s hockey players have
been named to the 2007-08 Women’s All-NCHA (Northern Collegiate
Hockey Association) Academic Team.
Included for the second year running are senior goalie Corinne Czekaj
(3.81 GPA, Livonia, Mich.), senior defensemen Samantha Fisher (3.38
GPA, Yakima, Wash.) and Ashley Leitch (3.44 GPA, Garden City, Mich.).
New to the NCHA All-Academic Team this year are sophomore forward
Emily Conrad (3.59 GPA, Marquette, Mich.), junior defenseman Chaslyn
Duffek (3.25 GPA, Houghton, Mich.), and sophomore defenseman Jessica
Jones (3.46 GPA, Winnipeg, Manitoba).
For additional information please contact Curtis Wittenberg, Finlandia
University sports information director, at 906-487-7214 or curtis.wittenberg@finlandia.edu.
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