March 8, 2010
Farmington Hills, Mich. – Notre Dame freshman goaltender Mike Johnson (Verona, Wis.) is one of six players named to the 2010 CCHA all-rookie team in voting done by the conference’s coaches. The team will be honored in Detroit on March 18th at the CCHA Awards Show at the Fox Theatre. Fellow freshman center Riley Sheahan (St. Catharine’s, Ont.) was an honorable mention selection.
Six different teams were represented on the team and a total of 15 freshmen in the conference received votes. Joining Johnson on the team were defensemen Torey Krug (Michigan State) and Joe Hartman (Miami) and forwards Andy Taranto (Alaska), Terry Broadhurst (Nebraska-Omaha) and Chris Brown (Michigan).
Johnson becomes the 11th Notre Dame player and the first goaltender to take CCHA all-rookie honors. He joins: Billy Maday (2008-09), Kevin Deeth (2006-07), Kyle Lawson (2006-07), Ryan Thang (2006-07), Erik Condra (2005-06), Brett Lebda (2003-04), David Inman (1998-99), Mark Eaton (1997-98), Joe Dusbabek (1996-97) and Jamie Ling (1992-93).
The 21-year old Johnson was 8-11-4 in CCHA games with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage with both marks leading all freshmen goaltenders in the CCHA. Johnson was the CCHA rookie of the week for the week ending Jan. 24 after picking up a win and a tie versus Lake Superior State when he stopped 71-of-73 shots on the weekend. He had one shutout in league play with that coming versus Michigan on Dec. 13 in a 2-0 Notre Dame win.
Overall, Johnson appeared in 29 games, making 28 starts and was 10-13-5 overall with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage plus a pair of shutouts. He finished the year ranked 10th among CCHA goaltenders in goals-against average and 11th in save percentage.
Sheahan played in 37 games for the Irish and had six goals with 11 assists for 17 points with three power-play goals and was tied for 11th in the conference among rookie scorers. He also tied freshman teammate Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) for the rookie points lead on the Irish with 17 points as Palmieri had nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. Sheahan is currently the top-rated collegiate player by NHL Central Scouting for the NHL Entry Draft this June.
2009-10 CCHA All-Rookie Team
Name Position School HometownAndy Taranto Forward Alaska Chicago, Ill.Terry Broadhurst Forward Nebraska-Omaha Orland Park, Ill.Chris Brown Forward Michigan Flower Mound, TexasTorey Krug Defenseman Michigan State Livonia, Mich.Joe Hartman Defenseman Miami St. Cloud, Minn.Mike Johnson Goaltender Notre Dame Verona, Wis.
Honorable Mentions – Forwards: Nik Yaremchuk, Alaska; Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Bowling Green; Curtis McKenzie, Miami; Derek Grant, Michigan State; Riley Sheahan, Notre Dame. Defense: Zach Trotman, Lake Superior State; Kyle Follmer, Northern Michigan; Devon Krogh, Ohio State. Goaltender: John Faulkner, Nebraska-Omaha.