Ferris State Hockey's Brandon Anselmini Tabbed As Strength & Conditioning All-American Athlete

Big Rapids, Mich. - Senior defenseman Brandon Anselmini (Guelph, Ontario), who recently completed his collegiate career for the Ferris State University men's ice hockey program this past season, has received his second All-American Athlete Award presented by The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

The award recognizes Anselmini's athletic accomplishments and his dedication to strength and conditioning. He was nominated by FSU Hockey Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Dave Cencer. Last year, he became the school's first-ever honoree before claiming the distinction for the second consecutive campaign.

"Brandon has been a leader for us in the weightroom and in conditioning sessions," Cencer said. "We're proud of him again for this tremendous honor. He did a great job of carrying his training onto the ice and it reflected in his play."

The All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award program honors collegiate and high school athletes whose athletic accomplishments, in the opinion of their strength coach, reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning. These athletes are also recognized for their academic and personal accomplishments and their integrity as student athletes.

"We are proud to have Coach Cencer join the NSCA in its mission to safely improve athletic performance," said Scott Caulfield, the NSCA's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. "Supporting our student-athletes like Brandon Anselmini guarantees a stronger future for the NSCA."

Anselmini helped the Bulldogs to their third NCAA Final Eight showing in the past five seasons this past year along with capturing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's (WCHA) Broadmoor Trophy as the Final Five Champions. Following the collegiate campaign, he later inked an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) with the Orlando Solar Bears of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), which is an affiliate of the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs and the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies.

This past season, Anselmini wrapped up a four-year collegiate career at FSU, where the 5-10 defenseman played in 38 games and totaled 17 points on two goals and 15 assists as the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional final. He claimed All-WCHA Third Team honors as a senior.

Over his four seasons as a Bulldog, Anselmini logged 56 points on 13 goals and 43 assists with 220 penalty minutes in 149 collegiate games. Prior to his collegiate career, he spent two seasons with the Guelph Hurricanes in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League followed by a 59-game stint with the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL).

In addition to his athletic success this past year, Anselmini was also a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Academic Team honoree and WCHA Scholar-Athlete.

The Bulldogs closed the 2015-16 campaign by making the program's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, including the third in the past five years to date. Along with a Frozen Four berth and national title game showing in 2012, FSU also has reached the regional final and the final eight of the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2016. 

Along with this year's run in the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs also won the WCHA's Broadmoor Trophy as the league's Final Five Champion. It marked the first conference tournament championship in school history and came on the heels of conference regular-season titles in both 2012 and 2014.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit educational association founded in 1978. Evolving from a membership of 76, the association now serves nearly 30,000 members in 52 countries. Drawing upon its vast network of members, the NSCA develops and presents the most advanced information regarding strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention, and research findings.

Unlike any other organization, the NSCA brings together a diverse group of professionals from the sport science, athletic, allied health, and fitness industries. These individuals are all in pursuit of achieving a common goal—the utilization of proper strength training and conditioning to improve athletic performance and fitness.

Central to its mission, the NSCA provides a bridge between the scientist in the laboratory and the practitioner in the field. By working to find practical applications for new research findings in the strength and conditioning field, the association fosters the development of strength training and conditioning as a discipline and as a profession. 

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NSCA serves as a valuable resource for its members, the fitness industry, general public, and the media. The association provides a wide variety of resources and opportunities designed to strengthen, build, advance, and unify.

For more information the NSCA, please visit www.nsca.com.