A great week for the Pankewicz family just got even better. Right winger Greg Pankewicz of the Colorado Eagles, who was blessed Monday evening with the arrival of second daughter Mackenna, has today been named the Central Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2004-2005 season. Pankewicz received 17 of 51 votes among CHL Coaches, public relations / broadcasting employees and selected media members in each market, edging runner-up Dan Wildfong (14 votes) of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Pankewicz has been a key cog for the Bud Poile Governors’ Cup (regular season) Champion Eagles, scoring 32 goals and adding 49 assists in 47 games this season. Seven of his goals have been game winners, with seven more coming with the man advantage and four while shorthanded.

Selected as a starter for the Northern Conference in the 2005 Dodge CHL All-Star Game in Laredo, Texas, Pankewicz earned All-Star MVP honors by scoring an All-Star record five goals and nine points in the North’s 14-13 shootout victory. Nearly a unanimous selection as “Best Overall Player” (15 first place votes and one second place vote), Pankewicz also was named the CHL’s “Hardest Shooter”, finished second as “Best Leader” (to Wildfong) and third as “Smartest Player” in the CHL’s annual “Best of the Best” poll.

Pankewicz registered points in 37 of his 47 games played this season, and enjoyed 26 multi-point outings. The Drayton Valley, Alberta native also had nine games with three points, three games with four points and a single five point contest. Also a finalist for 2003-2004 Most Valuable Player honors, the former Ottawa Senator and Calgary Flame led the CHL with 46 goals last season.

Also listed as final candidates for the 2004-2005 CHL Most Valuable Player award were CHL scoring leader Jason Duda of the Wichita Thunder, CHL goal scoring leader Don Parsons of the Memphis RiverKings, Amarillo Gorillas center Derek Hahn and Fort Worth Brahmas left winger Chad Woollard.

Thursday, the Central Hockey League will name the CHL Man of the Year and Rick Kozuback Award recipients, with the Most Outstanding Defenseman and Coach of the Year awards announced on Friday. The Joe Burton Award, presented to the regular season scoring champion, will be determined at the completion of the regular season on Sunday, March 20th.