COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-- Senior Colton Poolman was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Defensive Defenseman of the Year Tuesday as the league continues to announce its year-end individual award winners. He becomes the first UND player to win that award since his brother, Tucker, claimed it in 2016-17 before embarking on his professional career in the NHL's Winnipeg Jets system. 

Colton hopes to follow in his footsteps after he, too, signed a deal to play at the next level, inking a one-year deal with the Calgary Flames' system. 

This past year, Colton accounted for four goals and 13 assists to give him 75 career points (18 goals, 57 assists). He is a three-time All-NCHC Honorable Mention selection and was a finalist for the NCHC's Player of the Year in his junior season. He is also a finalist for the league's senior scholar-athlete award this season.

North Dakota allowed just 1.94 goals per game, fifth-best in the NCAA, thanks in part to squandering a nation-low 21.69 shots on goal per game. Poolman blocked 35 shots this season and was a key member of the special teams as UND killed off 88 percent of opponent power plays (103/117), fifth-best percentage in the NCAA with just 14 PPG allowed (fourth fewest in the country). 

The East Grand Forks, Minn., native is a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete with a 3.855 cumulative grade point average in biology.