During the 2004-05 season, the Ohio club hockey team repeated as the Central State Collegiate Hockey League regular season and tournament champs on route to finishing third in the nation.
Senior Joe Branco would prove to be the highlight of a group of talented Bobcats honored at the national level as he was named as a First Team All-American.
Individually
this is one of the best things that I could have done for me in my career Branco said.
Branco, who was left off the roster of Team USA that competed at the World University Games, made his mark throughout the season by using his body to produce excellent offensive and defensive numbers.
Not making that World University team kind of fueled me all year Branco said. I just wanted to prove to Illinois' coach (who picked the roster) and everyone else that they messed up
and I deserved to be on that team.
He was also named to the Division I National Championship All Tournament's Second Team during the Bobcats' attempted defense of their 2002-03 American Collegiate Hockey Association title.
Joe's the kind of kid that carries a little chip on his shoulder when he plays
coach Dan Morris said. He's a very offensive defenseman. He was one of our team leaders and he got rewarded by the other coaches that vote on these awards.
The defenseman led the Ohio blue-liners in points with 35, which was good for fourth on the team overall. Branco also accumulated 104 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of plus-38 playing his hard-nosed style of play.
Freshmen forwards Jim Fuhs and Dave Fitzgerald received Honorable Mentions along with sophomore net-minder Ryan Baksh and senior captain Nick Bassarab.
Bassarab, who was also named to the Division I National Championship All Tournament's Second Team, will be missed, but the Bobcats will have Fuhs and Fitzgerald to step up and fill the offensive void left by Bassarab's absence.
These awards mean a lot to our team
Bassarab said. It helps a lot with the recruiting process and allows us to keep bringing in quality players.
Goaltender Baksh, who was named the CSCHL Tournament's Most Valuable Player and to the Division I National Championship All Tournament's First Team, will look to add to his list of accomplishments in 2005-06.
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Mark Shugar
