Backman Named co-ECACHL Rookie of the Year

March 15, 2007

Sean Backman, the scoring leader of the Yale men's hockey team, has been named 2006-07 ECAC Hockey League co-Rookie of the Year tonight at the conference championship banquet in Albany, N.Y.

Backman, Yale' first ECACHL Rookie of the Year since Chris Higgins became the school's initial recipient in 2002-03, shares the top rookie honors with Quinnipiac's Brandon Wong. Both of them made the ECACHL All-Rookie first team and were an overall third-team selection.

"Receiving this award is a true honor. My first year of college hockey was a Blast," said Backman, a Cos Cob, Conn., native who attended Avon Old Farms and received the school's top prize for academics, community outreach and athletics. "This award couldn't have been possible without my teammates and my coaches. I owe a big thanks to all of them and I am looking forward to the start of next season."

Backman, the son of a former New York Ranger and New Haven (AHL) Nighthawk Mike Backman, led Yale with 18 goals and 31 points and was one goal shy of the Yale freshman record for goals in a season (19 by Tom Walsh, 1984-85).

Backman, the Feb. 4 ECACHL Player of the Week, was conference rookie of the week on Jan. 8. His 18 goals (in 29 GP) rank fourth nationally among freshmen and are 29th overall, though most players ranked higher have at least 10 more games played than Backman, who missed the two Yale playoff games with an illness.

He finished seventh in the ECACHL with 1.09 points per game (2nd among rookies), notched two shorthanded goals and hit the net on his only (Dartmouth) penalty shot attempt. Backman had a point in 19 of his 29 games including three multiple-goal outings and a hat trick at Quinnipiac.

"Sean worked hard to improve his game and he is certainly deserving of this honor," said Keith Allain '80, who completed his first season as Yale's Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach of Hockey. "He was a great weapon and offensive leader for us from the start. I think Yale fans are excited about having Sean and a talented rookie class back for three more seasons."

The Bulldogs finished 11-17-3 overall and squeezed 43 goals (78 overall) out of their talented freshman class.

2006-07 ECACHL Men's Award Winners

Player of the Year - Drew Bagnall, St. Lawrence

Ken Dryden Award (Goaltender of the Year) - David Leggio, Clarkson

Co-Rookies of the Year - Sean Backman, Yale; Brandon Wong, Quinnipiac

Best Defensive Forward - Kyle Rank, St. Lawrence

Best Defensive Defenseman - Drew Bagnall, St. Lawrence

Tim Taylor Coach of the Year - Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence*

Turfer Athletic Trophy - St. Lawrence

First-Team All-League

G - David Leggio, Clarkson

D - Reid Cashman, Quinnipiac

D - Drew Bagnall, St. Lawrence*

F - David Jones, Dartmouth*

F - Kyle Rank, St. Lawrence

F - Nick Dodge, Clarkson

Second-Team All-League

G - Mark Dekanich, Colgate

G - Alex Petizian, St. Lawrence

D - Sean Hurley, Brown

D - Dylan Reese, Harvard

F - Tyler Burton, Colgate

F - Jeff Prough, Brown

F - Jesse Winchester, Colgate

Third-Team All-League

D - Ben Lovejoy, Dartmouth

D - Jake Luthi, Rensselaer

F - Sean Backman, Yale

F - Byron Bitz, Cornell

F - Brandon Wong, Quinnipiac

All-Rookie Team

G - Alex Petizian, St. Lawrence*

D - Alex Biega, Harvard

D - Brendon Nash, Cornell

F - Sean Backman, Yale*

F - T.J. Galiardi, Dartmouth

F - Brandon Wong, Quinnipiac

Report filed by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director