COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Twenty-six members of the 2022-23 North Dakota hockey team were named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's All-Academic Team, as announced by the league on Friday morning for their work in the classroom during the past academic year. 

To be eligible for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, a student-athlete must compile a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (or better) and have completed a full academic year at their current institution. Similarly, for NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, a student-athlete must attain a 3.5 cumulative GPA or better with a full year of academic studies. Freshmen and first-year transfers were not eligible when the honors were first announced in late February, as they had not completed a full academic year, but with the 2022-23 academic calendar complete, the newcomers are now eligible to earn NCHC academic honors. Athletic success and playing time are not criteria for these awards.

Of the total 174 NCHC student-athletes that were honored, UND ranked second among all programs with 26 selections to sit just one behind Colorado College for the league's top spot. The Fighting Hawks also saw 15 student-athletes named NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, tied for the third-most in the conference with Western Michigan. 

Overall, North Dakota student-athletes completed the 30th straight semester with a 3.0 overall department grade point average, with the hockey program finishing with a 3.404 GPA. 

For more information on North Dakota hockey, follow on social media @UNDmhockey or visit FightingHawks.com.