COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-- Three of the six Preseason All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference members are from the University of North Dakota, announced today by league officials. Media that cover the league voted UND senior forward Jordan Kawaguchi along with blueliners senior Matt Kiersted and junior Jacob Bernard-Docker to the team. Junior forwards Noah Cates and Cole Koepke from Minnesota Duluth and Denver sophomore netminder Magnus Chrona were the other awardees.

Kawaguchi headlines the group, being named on 27 of the 28 ballots, most of any player. Kawaguchi was the NCHC's Forward of the Year, ranking second in the country in points with 45 on his way to USCHO.com National Player of the Year honors and a Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick Finalist. The Abbotsford, British Columbia product paced the NCAA in game-winning points with 13, scoring five game-winners and setting-up eight more. He returns for his senior season along with a stacked UND roster to include the two defensemen listed.

Fellow classmate Matt Kiersted also decided to return for his senior season following an NCHC Second Team selection last year. The Elk River, Minn., product was second on the team in scoring last season with six goals and 23 assists for 29 points. An NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year finalist, Kiersted's 29 points ranked third in the NCHC among defensemen and 11th in the country. He posted a +22 rating for the year, second-best in the conference and tied for ninth in the NCAA.

Junior Jacob Bernard-Docker, a first-round NHL pick (2018- 26th overall Ottawa), chipped-in 25 points a season ago with seven goals and 18 assists. He led the team with 45 blocked shots as well. The Canmore, Alberta native helped Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2020 IHF World Junior Championships, scoring a goal and leading the Canadians in time on ice in the tournament . Bernard-Docker finished at +21 in plus/minus for the season, tied for third-best in the NCHC.

North Dakota returns 19 letterwinners from last season's NCHC Penrose Cup champion team that piled up an impressive 26-5-4 overall mark before the Coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. The season is set to begin Dec. 2 against Miami in Omaha, Neb., for the first of 10 games to be played in 19 days in the NCHC pod at Baxter Arena.