COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For the first time in National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) history, the same person earned both NCHC monthly awards as North Dakota freshman forward Brock Boeser was named the NCHC Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month for March/April after leading UND to a national championship to close the 2015-16 season.

NCHC PLAYER AND ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Brock Boeser
North Dakota
Freshman Forward
Burnsville, Minn.

After an already impressive rookie campaign, Boeser had a monster final month and a half to close the season as he led all NCAA skaters in March and April with 23 points in 10 games, six more points than any other player, while helping North Dakota post an 8-1-1 record. His 18 assists, 1.80 assists per game, 2.30 points per game and plus-19 rating were also tops nationally during that time, while his five goals tied for fifth nationally, third in the NCHC and second among NCAA freshmen in March and April. The NCHC Rookie of the Year and runner-up for National Rookie of the Year (Tim Taylor Award) tallied points in nine of those 10 games, including multiple points in eight games and each of his first five games in March.

Boeser was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team after racking up six points at the Frozen Four to lead UND to its first national title since 2000. In the 4-2 national semifinal win against NCHC rival Denver April 7, the Vancouver Canucks first-round draft pick dished out two assists, including on the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation to break a 2-2 tie. Two nights later in the National Championship game against No. 1 Quinnipiac, Boeser tied a career high with both three assists and four points in the 5-1 victory, while scoring the game-winning goal short-handed, which was his first short-handed goal this season. He posted a plus-7 rating at the Frozen Four and also garnered AHCA/CCM First-Team West All-America honors while in Tampa, as well.

Boeser opened March with a six-point weekend in a sweep of Western Michigan March 4-5 to close the regular season and help UND clinch its second straight Penrose Cup outright as NCHC regular-season champions. He again tied a career high with four points (2g, 2a) in the series-opening 8-1 win while adding a goal and an assist in the regular-season finale as he was named the game’s First Star both nights. Boeser was named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance to close the regular season, as well.

The First-Team All-NCHC and NCHC All-Rookie Team selection continued his tear into the postseason, racking up five assists in an NCHC Quarterfinal series sweep of Colorado College, assisting on the game-winner March 11 while tying a career high with three helpers the following night. At the NCHC Frozen Faceoff March 18-19, Boeser compiled three assists as he had a hand in all three UND goals at the conference championship despite the Fighting Hawks suffering their only loss and tie during March or April.

At the NCAA Midwest Regional in Cincinnati, Boeser began the NCAA Tournament with a three-point outing in a 6-2 win over Northeastern March 25 as he scored a goal and added two assists. He saw his 10-game point streak snapped the following day in the Midwest Region final against Michigan as he was held pointless for the only time in March or April despite UND’s 5-2 victory to lock up a spot in its third straight Frozen Four.

During March and April, Boeser put 26 shots on goal, blocked six shots and had a .536 faceoff win percentage in the circle (15-13), as well. For the season, he totaled 60 points in 42 games on 27 goals and 33 assists with his 60 points ranking first in the NCHC and third nationally (second among freshmen). His 27 goals also led the NCHC and ranked fourth nationally, while his plus-45 rating for the season was second in the country behind only his linemate, Drake Caggiula. In addition to his many other honors, Boeser was named All-CHN First Team and CHN All-Rookie Team by College Hockey News and All-USCHO Second Team by U.S. College Hockey Online.

Boeser, who is now a two-time NCHC Rookie of the Month (January), is now a candidate for both the Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Player of the Month and National Rookie of the Month for March/April, which will be announced on Monday.

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