Richards, Franck share MVP

April 15, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

SteelHounds defensemen Steve Birnstill and Kurtis Dulle also earned honors.

AUSTINTOWN — Chris Richards and Andy Franck were named team MVPs at the Youngstown SteelHounds’ end of year banquet, presented by the SteelHounds Booster Club at the Eagles Lodge.

Richards was named MVP for the second straight season. The captain led the team in assists (56) and points (80) as he guided the SteelHounds to their best season in franchise history.

Richards is the team’s all-time leader in games played (190), assists (193), points (278) and game-winning goals (17).

Franck, 26, finished the regular season second in the Central Hockey League in wins with a 26-10-4 record. He was the starter for the Northern Conference in the CHL All Star Game.

Franck was 7-1-1 in nine starts for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He was named CHL goaltender of the week twice and was the goaltender of the month for March.

Other award winners were Steve Birnstill, rookie of the year; Kurtis Dulle, defenseman of the year; Nathan Schwartzbauer, most improved player; and David Simoes, unsung hero.

Birnstill was third in scoring among defensemen on the team with seven goals and 17 assists. He had 56 penalty minutes and was plus-11 in 62 regular-season games.

Dulle, in his first season with the SteelHounds, led the team with a plus-27 rating. He led all defenseman on the team in scoring with 31 points (five goals and 26 assists). His plus-minus rating was seventh in the CHL and four among defensemen.

Schwartzbauer, a rookie, had three goals and eight assists, and a plus-11 rating in 64 games.

Simoes was acquired from the New Mexico Scorpions on the trade deadline. In 18 games with the SteelHounds he had an assist and 90 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating. Including his 45 games with the Scorpions he accumulated a goal, six assists, 236 penalty minutes and was a plus-14. His 236 penalty minutes was tops in the CHL among rookies as was his 28 majors, which was tied for third overall with fellow defenseman Milan Maslonka.