More awards for the ice hockey team. And the season is still ten days away from being over.

Leading the pack was senior forward Andy McLaughlin, who was named League MVP. Last year, Icer defenseman Josh Brandwene snagged the award. McLaughlin was accordingly placed on the International Collegiate Hockey League first team.

"It's real nice to see the other teams noticed," McLaughlin said. In regard to the team's haul, he added, "Our team deserves it. We worked hard all year. Usually we let down in the second semester. This year, we didn't."

McLaughlin is currently tied for second with Jim Yablecki on the all-time Icer scoring list. This year, he has 52 points thus far, including 23 goals.

The ICHL regular season is over, but the playoffs are not until Mar. 14-15. That didn't stop the ICHL from bestowing its postseason awards this week. Nine Icers, including McLaughlin, walked away with ICHL awards. Coach Joe Battista was named Coach of the Year, the first time he was honored as such.

Battista led the Icers to a 14-1-1 regular-season record, the best in ICHL history. The Icers also won their first-ever ICHL regular-season title. Overall, the team finished 25-6-1. Battista recorded the 100th win of his career this season Nov. 30 against Rhode Island in the Rhode Island Tournament.

"The only other time I got (Coach of the Year) was when I coached the Junior Penguins," Battista said. "So, it has been a while. It always makes you feel good when your peers vote you in."

Winning Coach of the Year has been the "kiss of death," in the ICHL, Battista said. No coach who has won the award has yet to lead his team to an ICHL playoff title.

Switching to the people on the ice, four of the five Icer seniors garnered accolades.

In addition, senior defenseman and captains Mike Messner and Geoff Martha were named to the first team.

"I'm honored by it," Martha said. "I never really thought about (being honored.) It will mean a lot more if we win the championship."

Messner is the Icers' all-time point leader for defenseman, ahead of both Brandwene and Battista.

Senior goalie Andy Dumas was an ICHL second-team selection. Ross Cowan and junior Dave Murphy joined Dumas on that team.

Honorable mentions were awarded to junior Chris Cervellero, junior Don Lamison and freshman Scott Mangene.

"I feel we earned the right to have as many people named to the All-Star team as we did," Battista said. "It also goes to show how important our senior class has been to us."

Joing McLaughlin, Martha and Messner on the first team are Buffalo State's Chris Economou and Brian Busch and Niagara's Mike Duerden and Jason Disher.