April 10, 2009
WAKEFIELD, Mass. -
Freshman goaltender Kieran Millan of the Boston University men's ice hockey team was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Rookie of the Year, as announced on Friday at the Frozen Four. Millan has posted an impressive 28-2-3 record this season to help the Terriers reach Saturday's NCAA title game.
It did not take long for Millan to make his mark on the Boston University record book, as he set a new program record for goaltender wins in a season. The old mark of 25 was shared by Jack Ferreira (1964-65) and Cleon Daskalakis (1983-84). He boasts a nation-best .894 winning percentage, while his 1.92 goals-against average ranked fifth in the country. Entering the national championship game, he has given up more than one goal in a period just seven times in his last 81 full stanzas between the pipes.
Millan became the third BU player in the last four years to be named Hockey East Rookie of the Year and also was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star. He posted an impressive 15-1-3 record during conference play and his goals-against average of 1.80 against Hockey East opponents was nearly three-tenths better than the number posted by any other netminder.
The 19-year old native of Edmonton, Alta., then led the Terriers to the Hockey East championship, turning in a 32-save shutout in a 1-0 victory over UMass Lowell in the league title game to earn tournament MVP honors. It was just the third titlegame shutout in the 25-year history of the league.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Millan earned back-to-back Hockey East Goaltender of the Month accolades in December and January as part of an undefeated streak of 20 straight decisions (17-0-3) that lasted until the Hockey East quarterfinals. He has excelled away from home, posting a combined 15-0-1 record in road and neutral-site contests.
Millan came to BU after spending two seasons with Spruce Grove of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He compiled an overall record of 41-19-12 with the Saints to go with a 2.85 goals-against average and .911 save percentage, and was selected to participate in the 2007 AJHL All-Star Game.
The HCA Rookie of the Year is selected in a vote by the assistant coaching staffs of all 58 NCAA Division I hockey teams. Players on the ballot receive five points for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote. Each conference's top rookie serves as their respective league's nominee.
Millan is the second straight goaltender to be the recipient of the national rookie-of-the-year award after Richard Bachman of Colorado College won it last season. Millan is the first winner to come from the Hockey East conference with both previous winners coming from the WCHA.
