April 7, 2007
Notre Dame, Ind. – For the first time since 1999, a Notre Dame hockey player has been selected as an All-American.
Senior goaltender David Brown (Stoney Creek, Ont.) has been named to the 2006-07 RBK Hockey All-American West Team as a first team selection. He is the first Notre Dame player since defenseman Benoit Cotnoir `99 was a second team AHCA West All-American selection for the 1998-99 season and the first first team selection for the Irish since forward Kirt Bjork `83 was selected first team for the 1982-83 campaign.
For Brown, the award caps an incredible season. The 6-0, 199-pound goaltender turned in the best season by an Irish goaltender in the program’s 39 history. He finished the year with a 30-6-3 overall record to go with a 1.58 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and six shutouts while helping Notre Dame to its first-ever CCHA regular-season and playoff championships. The Irish were 32-7-3 on the year and 21-4-3 in CCHA play, both school records for wins.
Brown led the nation in wins (30) and goals-against average (1.58) while his save percentage and shutouts tied him for second in both categories nationally.
One of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate hockey player, Brown was the winner of the first-ever Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for college hockey. The award recognizes the top student-athlete in the sport who uses all four years of his collegiate eligibility.
Along the way to the prestigious national awards, Brown was named his team’s most valuable player, was a first team all-CCHA selection, the CCHA goaltender of the year and the league’s player of the year. In the post season, the Stoney Creek, Ont., native was selected to the CCHA all-tournament team and was the tournament’s most valuable player.
An eighth-round choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Brown set Notre Dame single-season marks for wins (30), goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.931), shutouts (6) and minutes played (2,389:40). For his career, Brown holds Notre Dame records for goals-against average (2.32), save percentage (.916) and shutouts (12). He finished second all-time in wins (55), was third in minutes played (6,326:14) and sixth in saves (2,662).
Brown was one of seven CCHA players selected to the 2006-07 RBK Hockey All-American West team and one of three first team selections. He was joined on the first team by defenseman Jack Johnson (Michigan) and forward T.J. Hensick (Michigan). Four CCHA players were named second team. That group includes defenseman Matt Hunwick (Michigan) and forwards Nathan Davis (Miami), Scott Parse (Nebraska-Omaha) and Mike Santorelli (Northern Michigan).
Brown will graduate in May from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business with a degree in management consulting.
The 2006-07 RBK Hockey Division I All-American Teams
West First Team EastDavid Brown (Sr., Notre Dame) Goaltender John Curry (Sr., Boston UniversityAlex Goligoski (Jr, Minnesota) Defense Drew Bagnall (Sr., St. LawrenceJack Johnson (So., Michigan) Defense Reid Cashman (Sr., Quinnipiac)Ryan Duncan (So., No. Dakota) Forward Brian Boyle (Sr., Boston College)Jonathan Toews (So., No.Dakota) Forward David Jones (Jr., Dartmouth)T.J. Hensick (Sr., Michigan) Forward Michel Leveille (Sr., Maine)
Second TeamBobby Goepfert (Sr., SCSU) Goaltender Jon Quick (So., Massachusetts)Taylor Chorney (So., No. Dakota)Defense Matt Gilroy (So., Boston University)Matt Hunwick (Sr., Michigan) Defense Sean Sullivan (Sr., Boston University)Nathan Davis (Jr., Miami) Forward Nick Dodge (Jr., Clarkson)Scott Parse (Sr., Neb.-Omaha) Forward Erik Ehn (Jr., Air Force)Mike Santorelli (Jr., NMU) Forward Trevor Smith (So., New Hampshire)