Russo, Lewis, Winchester Receive ACHA Honors

Defenseman Brandon Russo capped off an outstanding season as an All-American

Then-sophomore defenseman Brandon Russo has been named an ACHA Division 2 second team All-American for the 2012-2013 season, the association announced today. Additionally, Russo was first team All-Southeast Region, while outgoing senior defenseman Mac Winchester and then-sophomore forward Creek Lewis received second team all-region honors.

Russo, who played for the USHL's Indiana Ice prior to college and the ACHA D1 Icers as a freshman in 2011-2012, stepped in to the Ice Lions lineup last season and immediately became one of the team's key players as a lethal weapon from the back end. His 30 points from the blue line in 27 regular season games were fourth on the team overall and tops among rearguards, and he was vital to PSU's effective power play. An obvious season highlight was his two goal, three assist outing against Providence at the ACHA Showcase, but the Connecticut native was remarkably consistent and notched multi-point games against D1 Penn State Berks, then-defending national champion Florida Gulf Coast, and MACHA North rival Rowan.

Former Boston Bulldog Lewis was the team's leading goal scorer with 21 and in his second ACHA year, continued as one of the division's elite power forwards. He was a second team All-American as a freshman, and it's no coincidence that in each of his two seasons on campus, the Ice Lions have been among the nation's best. Winchester, a big, physical d-man who developed offensively as an upperclassman, was third team all-region as a junior. This award caps a career that started as an Icer (58 games from 2009-2011) and closed with back-to-back nationals appearances as an Ice Lion.

PSU was 27-6-1 last season and won the MACHA North regular season title, while also earning an autobid to the ACHA National Tournament in Chesterfield, MO. Much of the team's core will return for 2013-2014 to attempt a first-ever national championship under new coach Ryan Behnken.

Here is the full list of national and Southeast Region honorees:

National Awards/All-American Teams

ACHA D2 Most Valuable Player: Brian Gibbons (Utah State)
ACHA D2 Coach of the Year: Brian Corley (Illinois State)

	First Team		Second Team
F	Brian Gibbons	Utah State
F	Chris Cerbino	Marist
F	Anthony Casali	Michigan State
D	Nik Jost	UMBC	Brandon Russo	Penn State
D	Jordan Kerr	Utah State	Kevin Pabst	Michigan State
G	Matt LaBarge	Northeaster	Scott Tiefenhall	Grand Valley

Regional Awards/All-Southeast Region Teams

Regional MVP: Nik Jost (UMBC)
Regional Coach of the Year: Bill Krampf (Maryland)

	First Team		Second Team		Third Team
F	Daniel Echeverri	FGCU	Creek Lewis	Penn State	Brent Bain	Toledo
F	Brian Davis	Miami	Sean O'Connor	UMBC	Zach Born	Toledo
F	Brad Docksteader	Liberty	Andrew Heldt	Miami	Rick Shaffer	Bowling Green
D	Brandon Russo	Penn State	Mac Winchester	Penn State	Sam Buddenbaum	Miami
D	Nik Jost	UMBC	Andrew Dougherty	Rowan	Andrew Trainor	Temple
G	Alex Effinger	Miami	Nate Kholodenko	Rider	Max Miller	Akron