GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Following a 26-5-4 overall record and an NCHC regular season championship, the University of North Dakota today announced its year-end team awards. UND was perched atop the Pairwise Rankings when the season was cut short just before the playoffs were to begin due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Hobey Baker Award Top Three Finalist junior
Jordan Kawaguchi was named the Jeff Anderson Hockey Scholarship winner, the player annually voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates. Kawaguchi put together a junior season that saw him double his career point total and captured the nation's attention with a 45-point campaign. That 15-goal, 30-assist effort led the NCHC and was second in the NCAA for total points.
He was noted for points in crucial situations, racking-up a nation's best 13 game-winning points. He was named an first team all-American by several outlets and is in the final running for the Hobey Baker Award, revealed later Saturday night live on ESPN.
UND's other 2019-20 team award recipients included:
Cliff "Fido" Purpur Award: Cole Smith (Senior | Forward)
*Given to the player who demonstrates hard work, determination and being a creator of excitement on the ice.
*Smith is a back-to-back winner of this award
*Recorded a career-high 11 goals and played on a line that often matched up with the other team's top line.
Tom Hoghaug Memorial Scholarship: Ethan Frisch (Defense)
*Freshman hockey player who has demonstrated initiative, character and a sense of responsibility.
*Worked his way into the top six blueliners in his rookie season
*Scored a goal and had four assists and 21 blocked shots
Archie Krum Memorial Scholarship: Colton Poolman (Senior | Defense)
*Player who has demonstrated leadership qualities, high academic standards and athletic excellence.
*NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year
*Two-time captain and multi-year Academic All-NCHC
*Three-time NCHC Honorable Mention
Most Improved Player: Andrew Peski (Senior | Defense) and Collin Adams (Junior | Forward)
*Peski doubled his career high with 10 points this season
*Adams led the NCHC in plus/minus and nearly tripled his career point total this season with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists)
Rookie of the Year: Shane Pinto (Forward)
*Tied for the team lead with 16 goals
*Named to NCHC All-Rookie Team
Plus/Minus Award: Collin Adams (Junior | Forward)
*+25 led NCHC
*Ranked fifth in the NCAA
*Tied for country's most game-winning goals (6)
Coaches' Unsung Hero Award: Matt Kiersted (Junior | Defense) and Mark Senden (Sophomore | Forward)
*Kiersted was NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year finalist and an All-NCHC Second Teamer (6-23--29)
*More than doubled his career point total this season
*Senden centered UND's shutdown line
*(5-6--11) for the season
Virg Foss 3-Stars of the Game Winner: Jordan Kawaguchi (Junior | Forward)
*Led UND with an incredible 24 points in the three-star voting (3 points for 1st star, 2 for 2nd and 1 for 3rd).
*Was named to the Three-Star list in 11 of 19 home games
