GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced today that North Dakota defenseman Tucker Poolman is a finalist for the league's first-ever Defensive Defenseman of the Year Award and goaltender Matt Hrynkiw is one of four finalists for the NCHC Sportsmanship Award.

Poolman, a junior from East Grand Forks, Minn., was named to the All-NCHC First Team on Wednesday. He has seven goals and a team-leading 21 assists in 34 games this season, tying him for third among NCHC defensemen in scoring with 28 points. During conference play, he had four goals and 14 assists in 24 games and was a two-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week.

Other finalists for the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year Award include St. Cloud State sophomore Will Borgen and Minnesota Duluth sophomore Neal Pionk.

Hrynkiw, a former walk-on, did not see any regular season playing time during his first two years but emerged last year to go 10-2-2 in 14 appearances, 11 of which were starts. His 2.13 goals against average last season ranked ninth in UND single-season history. In 18 career appearances (13 starts), the senior from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is 11-5-2 with a 2.09 goals against average, .911 save percentage and two shutouts. He is a three-time selection to the All-NCHC Academic Team and was the co-recipient of UND's Coaches Unsung Hero Award last season.

Other finalists for the NCHC Sportsmanship Award include Minnesota Duluth junior forward Karson Kuhlman, St. Cloud State junior forward Judd Peterson, and Omaha junior forward Tyler Vesel.

The NCHC will announce its individual award winners at the NCHC Awards Celebration in Minneapolis on Thursday, March 16.

Poolman, Hrynkiw and the Fighting Hawks will host St. Cloud State in the NCHC Quarterfinals March 10-12 at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The series winner advances to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff March 17-18 at Target Center in Minneapolis.