By Nate Ewell, College Hockey, Inc.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award announced Friday that the 2011 recipient of college hockey's top individual prize is Andy Miele from Miami University. The announcement came during the NCAA Frozen Four championship at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., before a nationally televised audience on ESPNU.

Andy Miele outpaced everyone in college hockey this season piling up 71 points in just 39 games played. His closest competitor is 11 points behind. Overall Miele scored 24 goals and 47 assists becoming the first Miami RedHawk to win the Hobey.

Hobey Baker was the legendary Princeton hockey player known as America's greatest amateur athlete one hundred years ago. He redefined how the game was played with his coast-to-coast dashes in an era when hockey was contested with seven players and no forward passes. Baker died testing a repaired aircraft at the end of World War I after he had completed his military service. Hobey Baker criteria includes strength of character on and off the ice, displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements. Miele was selected from a group of 10 finalists by the votes of a 23-member selection committee, along with the results of an online fan ballot.

Miele's incredible playmaking skills were prominently displayed during conference play in the CCHA. The senior from Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., won the conference scoring title with 16 goals and 40 assists for 56 points in 28 league games, an average of two points per game and the most points in 19 years in CCHA conference play. His 40 assists were more than the second place player had points, a first in league history. His 47 assists in all games leads the nation by six assists.

Miele earned CCHA Player of the Year honors and was first-team All-CCHA. The Hockey Coaches Association named him their national Player of the Month in February when he bagged 12 points in just six games. He had multiple point efforts in 22 of the 39 games he played in.

An assistant captain with Miami, Miele signed a pro contract last week with the Phoenix Coyotes. He's an American Studies major with a Coaching minor. He is active in the community helping build a house for Habitat for Humanity, volunteering with a Children's Home for abused, neglected and disabled youth, and regularly visits a retirement community and local elementary schools.

Also announced Friday were the American Hockey Coaches Association Olt Time Hockey All-America Teams:

East First Team
G: Keith Kinkaid, Union
D: Brian Dumoulin, Boston College
D. Blake Kessel, New Hampshire
F: Cam Atkinson, Boston College
F: Chase Polacek, Rensselaer
F: Paul Thompson, New Hampshire

West First Team
G: Pat Nagle, Ferris State
D: Chay Genoway, North Dakota
D: Justin Schultz, Wisconsin
F: Jack Connolly, Minnesota Duluth
F: Matt Frattin, North Dakota
F: Andy Miele, Miami

East Second Team
G: John Muse, Boston College
D: Nick Bailen, Rensselaer
D: Taylor Fedun, Princeton
F: Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack
F: Gustav Nyquist, Maine
F: Paul Zanette, Niagara

West Second Team
G: Aaron Dell, North Dakota
D: Jake Gardiner, Wisconsin
D: Zach Redmond, Ferris State
F: Carter Camper, Miami
F: Mike Connolly, Minnesota Duluth
F: Carl Hagelin, Michigan