Wilson and DeMichiel honored at 62nd annual Day of Champions Dinner

Courtesy of RIT Sports Information

ROCHESTER, NY - Former RIT men's hockey standout goaltender Jared DeMichiel and head coach Wayne Wilson, were honored at the Rochester Press Radio Club's 62nd Annual Day of Champions Children's Charity Dinner on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.  DeMichiel was named the 2010 PAYCHEX Male College Athlete of the Year, while Wilson earned the Rochester Razor Sharks Coach of the Year.

DeMichiel, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in business from RIT in 2010, finished his first professional season, playing with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, along with the South Carolina Stingrays, and Elmira Jackals of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).  

DeMichiel led the Tigers to their first NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 2010 and led all of Division I with 27 wins in 2009-10. He was named the NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player after stopping 62-of-65 shots in wins over national powers Denver and New Hampshire. DeMichiel equaled his career-high with 39 saves in a 2-1 win over then No. 2 Denver in the East Regional Semifinal.

DeMichiel, who was named the 2010 Atlantic Hockey Association Regular Season Goaltender of the Year and earned AHA first team honors, was a main reason why RIT advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time at the Division I level. He helped lead RIT to a school record 28 wins, the AHA regular season and postseason championships, along with the NCAA East Regional title. DeMichiel also won the 2010 Lou Spiotti Coaches Award, and was a six-time AHA Goaltender of the Week. He was also the AHA Goaltender of the Month in February. 

In 2009-10, DeMichiel finished 27-10-1 and was fourth nationally with a .724 winning percentage, seventh with a 2.09 goals against average, and 10th in save percentage (.921). He posted six solo shutouts and was part of two shared shutouts. The eight total shutouts are the most in one season in the history of the RIT men's hockey program. RIT finished the season with the fourth best goals against average in all of Division I (2.20). 

DeMichiel holds RIT Division I team records with 41 wins, goals against average (2.46), and shutouts (7). In AHA play, he led the league with a 21-4-1 mark, 1.78 goals against average, .932 save percentage, and five solo shutouts. He also was part of two shared shutouts. The 21 wins are an AHA single-season record.

Wilson recently completed his 12th season as head coach of the Tigers, leading his squad to their fourth Atlantic Hockey Association Regular Season Championship in the last five seasons. The Tigers advanced to the AHA Championship game for the second straight season, finishing the season with a 19-11-8 record. The Tigers rattled off an 11-game unbeaten streak during the middle of the season, and once again, were one of the highest scoring teams in Division I.

The Guelph, Ontario, native has led the Tigers to a stellar 110-59-19 record since the start of the 2006-07 season, and a 92-31-16 mark all-time in AHA play. IN 2010-11, the Tigers tied their own AHA record for fewest losses (5).

Wilson enjoyed a magical year behind the bench in 2009-10. He, along with the Tigers, accrued a bevy of individual and team accomplishments, including the Spencer Penrose Award as Division I National Coach of the Year. Wilson became the first coach to win the National Coach of the Year at both the Division I and Division III levels. He led RIT to its first Atlantic Hockey Championship, and a spot in the NCAA Division I Tournament. The Tigers captured the attention of the country as they made their historic run to the Frozen Four, playing in front of 34,954 fans at Ford Field in Detroit. RIT finished the season with a school record 28 wins, including a 12-game winning streak from Feb. 12 to March 27. The Tigers finished the season ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine National Poll, and were as high as ninth. 

Several local sports personalities and athletes will be honored at this gala event. Super Bowl 45 Champion,  Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers, along with fellow RIT women's hockey standout Sarah Dagg (St. George, Ontario/Hamilton Hawks) will also be honored.

A complete list of award winners and dinner information (tickets, sponsorships) is available at www.pressradio.org. The dinner benefits local children's charities.

RIT recipients of the PAYCHEX Male Athlete of the Year:
1992 - Jason Rich, men's soccer
1994 - Tony Fraij, men's cross country/track and field
1996 - Craig Jones, men's basketball
1998 - Matt Hamill, wrestling
1999 - Ben Hunt, men's lacrosse
2002 - Mike Bournazakis, men's hockey
2007 - Simon Lambert, men's hockey 
2010 - Jared DeMichiel, men's hockey

RIT recipients of the PAYCHEX Female Athlete of the Year:
2009 - Katie Stack, women's hockey
2010 - Sarah Dagg, women's hockey

RIT recipients of the Press Radio Club Local Amateur Athlete of the Year:
1999 - Kristine Pierce, women's hockey