DeKeyser Named Red Wings’ Rookie of the Year

The Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association announced on Wednesday that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser has been named the team’s Rookie of the Year for the 2013-14 season.

DeKeyser played in 65 games for the Red Wings, scoring 23 points. Perhaps more impressive was his 21:38 average ice time, second on the team to Niklas Kronwall.

It was the first full season in the NHL for the Macomb native, who played eleven games in the 2012-13 campaign, signing with Detroit after his junior year at Western Michigan University.

“We had a lot of rookies in the lineup on a regular basis this season, so it’s a great honor to be recognized as Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association,” said DeKeyser. “Being able to play here in Detroit in front of my friends and family made this season very special, and it’s a privilege to be acknowledged by the DSBA with so many other worthy candidates who were able to help the team this year.”

DeKeyser joins recent Rookie of the Year recpients such as Gustav Nyquist, Jimmy Howard, Kronwall, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. He is the fifth defenseman since the 1999-2000 season to earn the award.