Matt Nelson (Westwood, Mass.) was named captain of the 2008-09 Yale men's hockey team and the individual awards were announced at the Wednesday night team banquet hosted by the Yale Hockey Association at the Course at Yale.

Nelson, who has played 73 games over three letter winning seasons, is the first Yale men's hockey captain from Massachusetts since Jeff Blaeser in 1991-92.

"I'm very honored to be voted captain. We have a great crew of guys both on and off the ice and I look forward to accomplishing great things as a team," said Nelson, who has nine career goals and 15 points.

"I lead by example. I believe that the closer a team is the more success it will achieve. My most important task is preserving and enhancing the already tight bond between all team members. The closer we become off the ice, and the more we can disregard age and class, the more success were going to have as a team."

Nelson, who had two goals and five points in an injury-shortened 18-game 2007-08 campaign, and the Bulldogs finished 16-14-4 last season, swept Rensselaer in a first-round home ECAC playoff series and then fell in a three-game, quarterfinal weekend at Princeton last March.

"We have the talent and the dedication to have a great team. I'm confident that we're going to have one of the most conditioned teams in college hockey and will surprise people, said Nelson."

"We are extremely pleased that Matt was elected captain by his peers," said Keith Allain '80 Yale's Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach of Hockey. "He has the qualities essential to lead our team. Matt is respected, disciplined, selfless and has a tremendous work ethic. His play reflects the passion that has come to identify Yale Hockey."

Sophomore Sean Backman (Cos Cob, Conn.), who was third-team All-ECAC and first-team All-Ivy, grabbed the J. Murray Murdoch Award (MVP) after leading the team with 18 goals and 27 points.

Robert Page (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Yale's only academic All-Ivy and ECAC selection, was the recipient of the Edward M. Wright MD Award (athletic, academic) while the Malcolm G. Chace Award (sportsmanship, spirit, ability) went to 2007-08 captain Will Engasser (Chanhassen, Minn.). A third senior, Matthew Thomey (Harbour Grace, NF) took home the Yale Hockey Coaches Award (determination, desire).

A pair of freshmen who combined for 19 goals and 45 points, Denny Kearney (Hanover, N.H.) and Broc Little (Rindge, N.H.) shared the Martin Dwyer III Award (rookie).

Tom Dignard (Reading, Mass.), who earned the John Poinier Award (defense), and Chris Cahill (North Andover, Mass.), who garnered the David C Noyes III Award (performance, attitude) were two of the three sophomores who were named to banquet honors. Dignard also led all Eli blueliners with four goals and 18 points. Cahill finished with 6-11-17.

Former Yale skater Greg Wiber '74, who has served as president of the Yale Hockey Association and has been an active board member, received the seldom-distributed Virginia Hird Award (outstanding contribution).

Report filed by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director