GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Senior forward Dylan James was one of nine players selected to the inaugural NCHC Academic All-Conference Team on Thursday, as announced by the league office.
 
The new NCHC Academic All-Conference Team consists of nine upperclassman student-athletes, with one representative from each member school. The student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average on each NCHC team earns a spot on the new Academic All-Conference Team. Recipients must be at least a junior in school and have spent a full academic year at their current institution (no first-year transfers).
 
James boasts a 3.89 GPA while majoring in kinesiology at North Dakota and minoring in communications. He is one of three finalists for the NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award this year. James is a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and a three-time AHCA All-American Scholar. He is also a finalist for NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year this season after sitting tied for the team lead with 17 goals.
 
The cumulative GPAs used to determine this award are based on grades at the end of the fall/first semester for the current 2025-26 academic year. There is no athletic component connected to this award and no voting was involved.
 
The previous NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, which recognized student-athletes with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better, is now referred to as the NCHC Honor Roll, and was announced in February, along with NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes.
 
2025-26 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team:
· Riley Bodnarchuk, Minnesota Duluth, Sr., D
· Boston Buckberger, Denver, Jr., D
· Will Craig, Omaha, Jr., G
· Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Western Michigan, Jr., D
· Dylan James, North Dakota, Sr., F
· Drew Montgomery, Colorado College, Jr., F
· Brayden Morrison, Miami, Sr., F
· Mason Reiners, St. Cloud State, Sr., D
· Kyle Smolen, Arizona State, Jr., F
 
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