Mavericks announce team awards

On Monday, Minnesota State announced its team award winners for the 2018-19 season. Here they are, along with my own comments (or how I would have voted if I had a vote):

Most valuable player: Marc Michaelis. Michaelis led the Mavericks with 19 goals and 42 points, playing in all 42 games. He was plus-22 and had nine power-play goals and two short-handed goals. 

Comment: No argument here. Michaelis was the top producer on a very balanced team. He also moved from wing to center this season and handled the faceoff and defensive duties with aplomb.

Most improved player: Charlie Gerard. Gerard had 30 points, mostly playing on the top line with Michaelis and Parker Tuomie. That was a 25-point improvement from the previous season. He led MSU with 111 shots on goal and four game-winners.

Comment: Gerard probably would have been my choice, too, although defenseman Jack McNeely at plus-27 would have been a very close second. This is where I usually note if the award is for most-improved from one year to the next or most-improved over the course of a season. Gerard and McNeely the former description. Walker Duehr and even Josh French deserved votes, too.

Unsung player: Edwin Hookenson. Hookenson played in all 42 games, had 10 points, was plus-13 and, most impressively, was second in the country with 97 blocked shots. 

Comment: The Mavericks' defensive corps was excellent throughout, even though Connor Mackey and Ian Scheid got many of the accolades because of their point production. Hookenson, Riese Zmolek and McNeely all would be deserving of this award.

Hardest worker: Max Coatta. Coatta won this award for the third year in a row. The only senior to regularly play this season, he had eight goals and 15 points in 33 games, missing time with a knee injury. 

Comment: To win this three years in a row is impressive. There might have been some close competition this year, though, with Nick Rivera and Jared Spooner. Rivera might have gotten my vote, but that's no knock on Mighty Max.

Don Brose Leadership Award: Coatta. Coatta was the lone senior in the everyday lineup and one of the team's three captains. He was also a second-year captain. 

Comment: I don't see too much behind the scenes, so I'll trust the players and coaches on this one. But from what I have seen, Coatta is a strong leader and is very respected by everyone. Right now, there's just one hole to fill in next year's lineup, but it's a big one.

Three-Star Award: Parker Tuomie. Tuomie wins this based on three-stars-of-the-game voting at each home game. Tuomie also won this in 2017. He finished the season with 40 points in 36 games, leading MSU with 26 assists.

Comment: This is not a voted-upon award, but Tuomie often plays like a star when the lights go on. He and Michaelis should be fun to watch as seniors next year.