Issued: March 10, 2003

FIVE MEN'S HOCKEY PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-NCHA ACADEMIC TEAM

RIVER FALLS - Five members of the UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team were named to the 44-member All-Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Academic Team, it was announced recently by conference sports information director Jim Thies.

Forwards Joe Byrd (Sr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Hill-Murray) and Justin Kaufenberg (Sr.-Shakopee, MN) were each named to their second All-NCHA Academic Team. Both assistant captains for the 2002-03 season, Byrd is a kinesiology major while Kaufenberg is studying business economics.

Also named to their second All-NCHA Academic Team were forwards Mark Jalcovik (Jr.-Frankfurt, IL/Lincoln Way) and Ian Sgambelluri (Jr.-Thunder Bay, ONT/St. Patrick's). Jalcovik is a finance major while Sgambelluri is pursuing a degree in business economics.

Named to his first All-NCHA Academic Team is defenseman Carl Schneider (Jr.-Inver Grove Heights, MN/Simley). Schneider is a mathematics major.

To be named to the All-NCHA Academic Team a player must have a cumulative 3.00 grade point average, have earned at least 50 semester or 75 quarter hours, and be recommended by his head coach.