COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – While NCHC teams are enjoying plenty of success on the ice, National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) players are also impressing in the classroom, as a record 136 student-athletes have been named to the 2021-22 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team. In addition, of those 136, 73 student-athletes also earned Distinguished Scholar-Athlete recognition, another conference record.

The 136 members of this year’s NCHC Academic All-Conference Team are the most in the conference’s nine-year history, narrowly surpassing the 133 recipients on the inaugural Academic All-Conference Team in 2013-14. The 73 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes are also the most in NCHC history, topping last year’s mark of 67.

To be eligible for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, a student-athlete must compile a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average or better, while having completed at least one full academic year at his current institution. Student-athletes that have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better are honored as NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, in addition to Academic All-Conference. 

Of the 73 student-athletes to earn NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors, 40 of them posted a cumulative GPA north of 3.7, including an impressive 17 with a 3.9 GPA or better. Six NCHC student-athletes carry a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA. Omaha leads the way with 14 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, while Western Michigan is right behind with 13 and Colorado College has 12. Minnesota Duluth is fourth with nine honorees, while North Dakota is home to eight Distinguished Scholar-Athletes. All eight NCHC teams have at least five Distinguished Scholar-Athletes this year.

Among the 136 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team members, six schools placed at least 15 student-athletes on the team, led by 21 representatives each from Omaha and Western Michigan. Colorado College is just behind with 20 honorees, while Miami and Minnesota Duluth placed 17 student-athletes each on the Academic All-NCHC Team. Denver has 15 Academic All-Conference Team members. All eight schools have at least 12 student-athletes honored on the 2021-22 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team.

While freshmen and first-year transfers, including graduate transfers, are not currently eligible for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team or Distinguished Scholar-Athlete recognition (due to not having a full year at their current school), those freshmen and transfers that achieve a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better at the conclusion of the 2021-22 academic year will be added to the Academic All-Conference Team over the summer. Similarly, any freshmen or transfers who compile a 3.5 GPA or better will be named an NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. 

The 2021-22 NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, chosen from senior Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, will be announced at the annual NCHC Awards Celebration, which returns this season on Thursday, March 17 in Saint Paul, Minn. NCHC All-Conference and All-Rookie Teams, along with NCHC individual award finalists, will be announced the week prior from March 8-10.

All 136 members of the 2021-22 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team are listed below by school, with those also earning NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete recognition in bold.  

COLORADO COLLEGE
Nicklas Andrews
Dominic Basse
Jake Begley
Jordan Biro
Hugo Blixt
Ray Christy
Tyler Coffey
Patrick Cozzi
Chase Foley
Matthew Gleason
Jackson Jutting
Connor Mayer
Hunter McKown
Jack Millar
Marc Pasemko
Jackson Ross
Chad Sasaki
Matt Vernon
Logan Will
Bryan Yoon

DENVER
Ryan Barrow
Mike Benning
Bobby Brink
Connor Caponi
Jack Caruso
Magnus Chrona
Brett Edwards
Cole Guttman
Reid Irwin
Lane Krenzen
Justin Lee
Kyle Mayhew
Brett Stapley
Antti Tuomisto
McKade Webster

MIAMI
Alec Capstick
Joe Cassetti
Jack Clement
Scott Corbett
Bray Crowder
Derek Daschke
Robby Drazner
Michael Holland
Dylan Moulton
Jack Olmstead
Ludvig Persson
Chase Pletzke
Hampus Rydqvist
Ryan Savage
Brian Silver
Andrew Sinard
John Sladic

MINNESOTA DULUTH
Ben Almquist
Matt Anderson
Brady Anderson
Koby Bender
Blake Biondi
Noah Cates
Ryan Fanti
Darian Gotz
Connor Kelley
Tanner Laderoute
Jarrett Lee
Luke Loheit
Quinn Olson
Ben Patt
Jacob Rosenbaum
Kobe Roth
Zach Stejskal