Doerring Named MIAC MVP

MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/05/18)---Concordia senior Zach Doerring was named the MIAC Most Valuable Player as voted on by the conference coaches it was announced on Monday.

Doerring was one of five Cobber players to earn MIAC postseason awards. Doerring was also placed on the MIAC All-Conference Team along with linemate Jon Grebosky and defenseman Tanner Okeson. Junior Mario Bianchi was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Team while Shane Gingera was chosen by Concordia as the team's representative on the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.

Doerring becomes the fifth Concordia player to earn MIAC MVP honors since 1983. He is also the first Cobber to earn the award since 2014. Caleb Suderman was named the conference MVP in 2014. Goalie Bryan Howard earned the top MIAC award in 2001 while Mike Hassman was the league MVP in 1990 and Mark Rice garnered the honor in 1987.

Doerring was the team captain in 2018 and led the team in scoring in overall games and conference contests. Doerring had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in the team's 16 MIAC games. He led the MIAC in scoring in conference games and was also tied for the lead in goals scored. His 22 points in conference play is a career high for the four-year starter.

Doerring had at least one point in 13 of the 16 league games and had a season-high four points (1 goal/3 assists) in the final game of the regular season against Augsburg when Concordia needed a win to stay in the playoff race.           

Doerring accumulated 14 goals and 14 assists in all games and finished with a career-high 28 points for the year. Doerring ended his time in maroon and gold with 28 goals and 51 assists for 79 points.

The five Cobber award winners helped Concordia earn its sixth straight MIAC playoff berth. The Cobbers finished the year with a 7-8-1 record in league play and a 10-13-3 overall record.

Greboky earns his fourth straight MIAC postseason honor. He was named to the MIAC All-Rookie Team in hs freshman season in 2015 and then to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team before finishing out his career with a pair of All-Conference awards.

Grebosky was second on the team in scoring in 2018. Like, Doerring, Grebosky played in all 16 league games and came away with six goals and 13 assists for 19 points. His 19 points was second in the MIAC while he tied for the conference lead in assists.

Grebosky had eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 26 games played in 2018. He finished his Cobber career with 45 goals and 50 assists for 95 points.

Okeson earns his first-ever conference postseason honor. He was one of the team's top defenseman the entire season but really stepped to the forefront down the stretch when Concordia was competing for a playoff spot.

Okeson finished the year with six goals and six assists for 12 points in conference play. His six goals tied for tops among all defenseman while his point total was tied for fourth most among blue liners.

Bianchi earns his first-ever conference postseason award despite playing in only 10 MIAC games due to a lower leg injury which stopped his season on Jan. 20.

Before having his season ended by the injury, Bianchi was leading the MIAC in scoring. Despite playing on two-thirds of the conference schedule Bianchi was still in the Top 15 in both total points and assists. He finished with five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 10 conference games.  

Bianchi also had seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 19 overall games in 2018. His point total ties a career high.   

2018 MIAC Men's Hockey Awards
Player of the Year – Zach Doerring | F | Concordia (Sr. | Chanhassen, Minn. | Blake)
Coach of the Year – Brett Petersen | Gustavus (18th Season)