A pair of first-team All-Americans – freshman goaltender Richard Bachman (Highlands Ranch, CO) and senior defenseman Jack Hillen (Minnetonka, MN) – claimed two major awards apiece on Sunday as the Colorado College hockey team held its season-ending banquet at the Marriott Hotel.

Bachman, who set school records with a 1.85 goals-against average and .931 saves percentage while posting a 25-9-1 overall record in 2007-08, was named winner of both the Thayer Tutt Award as CC's Most Valuable Player and the Bob Johnson Award as Freshman of the Year.

Hillen, the nation's top-scoring blue-line specialist with 37 points (6g,31a) and Defensive Player of the Year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, took home the Paul Markovich Award as Tiger Hockey's top student athlete and was co-recipient of the Dave Peterson Award presented annually to the team's Most Improved Player. He shared that distinction with sophomore forward Matt Overman (Bloomington, MN).

The Steve Ebert Award, which recognizes a combination of dedication, desire, ability and sportsmanship, went to senior right winger Jimmy Kilpatrick (New Prague, MN). The Rodman Award, presented to the player who demonstrates the highest degree of sportsmanship and leadership, went to senior left wing/team captain Scott Thauwald (Rochester, MN).

Junior center Chad Rau (Eden Prairie, MN), a second-team All-American, earned the M.B. Hopper Award as Colorado College's leading scorer after finishing the season with 42 points (28 goals,14 assists). Sophomore right wing Mike Testwuide (Vail, CO), who struck for three goals including an overtime game winner in CC's opening-round playoff series against the University of Alaska Anchorage, won the Tony Frasca Award as post-season MVP.

Longtime play-by-play broadcaster Jeff Thomas, who served as “Voice of the Tigers” for 14 consecutive seasons (1992-2006) before relinquishing the duty two years ago, was honored with the Joni Brandner Memorial Award. That award, initiated in 2002, is presented annually to an individual who has given his or her heart and soul through dedication to Tiger Hockey.

Meanwhile, junior defenseman Jake Gannon (Roselle, IL) was named team captain for the 2008-09 season. Rau and Testwuide will serve as alternates, with a third player to be potentially added to the mix during training camp in the fall.

Sunday's banquet officially brought an end to the '07-08 campaign in which Colorado College roared to its sixth WCHA?regular-season championship since 1994, hosted a first-round league playoff series for the 15th time in the last 17 years, and made the program's 19th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament while hosting the West Regional at the World Arena.