COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After unveiling its All-Rookie Team on Tuesday, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced its two All-Conference Teams on Wednesday, with a trio of North Dakota players represented on the teams.
Voting was conducted by the eight head coaches at each institution and eight media members, one covering each member school. Coaches and media voted for six forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders, awarding first-team votes for six players (three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender) and second-team votes for the other six selections. Three points were awarded for a first-team vote while one point was awarded for a second-team vote, with the most points at each position earning the honors. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players, making 15 first-place votes the maximum a player can receive.
Graduate student defenseman Chris Jandric headlined the selections for North Dakota, earning a spot on the All-NCHC First Team following a stellar campaign along the blueline. Jandric led all NCHC blueliners in conference play with 21 points in 24 games, while his 18 assists tied for first among defensemen and tied for third among all skaters. In all games, the Prince George, B.C., native ranks one point behind Denver's Mike Benning with 32 points in 35 games. He has four goals on the year, while his 28 assists lead all NCHC defensemen and rank third among all NCHC players.
Freshman forward Jackson Blake and junior forward Riese Gaber were also honored by the league, having been selected to the All-NCHC Second Team. Blake, who was an unanimous selection to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, tied for second in conference play with 29 points, scoring 10 goals and adding 19 assists. Overall, the Hurricanes draft pick is fourth in the NCHC with 40 points on 15 goals and 25 assists. Blake's teammate, Gaber, was sixth in conference play with 13 goals, while totaling 23 points in 24 NCHC games. Overall, he has 34 points in 35 games, including 19 goals, which ties for fifth in the NCHC.
The NCHC will announce its individual award finalists on Thursday. Individual award winners will be announced at the NCHC Awards Celebration in Saint Paul, Minn. on Thursday, March 16 on the eve of the 2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff.
2022-23 First-Team All-NCHC
F: Jason Polin, Sr., Western Michigan - 43 points (14 first-team votes)
F: *Massimo Rizzo, So., Denver – 36 (12)
F: Jami Krannila, Sr., St. Cloud State – 30 (9)
D: ^Mike Benning, Jr., Denver – 35 (11)
D: Chris Jandric, Gr., North Dakota – 24 (7)
G: *+Magnus Chrona, Sr., Denver – 26 (8)
2022-23 Second-Team All-NCHC
F: *Carter Mazur, So., Denver – 27 (7)
F: *Jackson Blake, Fr., North Dakota – 16 (2)
F: *%Riese Gaber, Jr., North Dakota – 10 (1)
D: Jack Peart, So., St. Cloud State – 19 (5)
D: *~Wyatt Kaiser, Jr., Minnesota Duluth – 12 (3)
G: *Kaidan Mbereko, Fr., Colorado College – 25 (6)
2022-23 Honorable Mention All-NCHC
F: Hunter McKown, Jr., Colorado College – 6 (1)
F: *Ben Steeves, Fr., Minnesota Duluth – 5 (1)
F: Jack Randl, Sr., Omaha – 4 (1)
F: *Ryan McAllister, Fr., Western Michigan – 4 (0)
F: Zach Okabe, Sr., St. Cloud State – 4 (0)
D: *Sean Behrens, So., Denver – 10 (2)
D: Dylan Anhorn, Sr., St. Cloud State – 7 (1)
G: Simon Latkoczy, Fr., Omaha – 7 (1)
*All-Rookie Team selection as a freshman
% 2021-22 First-Team All-NCHC
^ 2021-22 Second-Team All-NCHC
+ 2021-22 Honorable Mention All-NCHC
~ 2020-21 Honorable Mention All-NCHC
For more information on North Dakota hockey, follow on social media @UNDmhockey or visit FightingHawks.com.
