2021-22 All-USCHO Teams

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Six National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) players were recognized by USCHO.com for outstanding seasons on Tuesday, earning a spot on one of three 2021-22 All-USCHO Teams. The six NCHC players honored are the most from one conference, two more than any other. The NCHC placed two players on each of the First, Second and Third All-USCHO Teams, while three NCHC schools are represented with a trio of Denver Pioneers, a pair of Western Michigan Broncos and one North Dakota Fighting Hawk.

Denver junior forward Bobby Brink and North Dakota sophomore defenseman Jake Sanderson landed on the All-USCHO First Team, while NCHC players made up the Second-Team blue line in DU sophomore Mike Benning and Western Michigan junior Ronnie Attard. Denver sophomore Carter Savoie and WMU grad student Ethen Frank claimed two of the three forward spots on the All-USCHO Third Team.

Brink (Minnetonka, Minn.) made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night only three days after helping lead Denver to a NCAA National Championship. The NCHC Player and Forward of the Year in 2021-22 led the NCAA in scoring with 57 points and 1.39 points per game in 41 games, seven more points than any other player. His 43 assists also led the NCAA by seven, while chipping in 14 goals, including two game-winners. Brink was a Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalist and an AHCA First-Team All-American this season, as well as a unanimous First-Team All-NCHC selection after winning the NCHC scoring title by 10. The DU assistant captain’s 35 points in conference play tied an NCHC single-season record.

Also an AHCA First-Team All-American this season, Sanderson (Whitefish, Mont.) was one of the top blue liners in the country when healthy, leading all NCAA defensemen with a 1.13 points-per-game average in his 23 contests with UND. The first-round draft pick and now member of the Ottawa Senators racked up 26 points on eight goals and 18 assists, while posting a +5 plus/minus. Sanderson earned Second-Team All-NCHC honors this season, despite only appearing in 10 conference games due to injuries and time away representing Team USA at the World Junior Championship, where he served as captain of the National Junior Team, and the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Benning (St. Albert, Alta.) was named NCHC Player of the Month on Tuesday, as well, after helping lead Denver to its record-tying ninth national title, with five points in the NCAA Tournament and four points in the Frozen Four. The Florida Panthers draft pick was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Frozen Four after scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game and assisting on the overtime game-winner in the national semifinals against Michigan. Benning garnered Second-Team All-NCHC honors this season, while finishing second nationally in defenseman scoring with 38 points in 41 games. His 15 goals were also second among NCAA blue liners this year. Benning dished out 23 assists and was +32 on the season, tying for fourth nationally.

Like Brink, Attard (White Lake, Mich.) signed an NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, making his NHL debut on April 2. The former WMU assistant captain is a two-time NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year after winning the award again in 2022 and was named First-Team All-American for a second straight year. Attard finished the season third in NCAA defenseman scoring with 36 points on 13 goals and 23 assists in 36 games. Attard’s 13 goals tied for fourth among blue liners nationally. In conference play, Attard was named First-Team All-NCHC for the second straight season this year after tallying 21 points (8g/13a) in 24 NCHC games. He was also a member of both the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and NCAA Northeast Region All-Tournament Teams this season.

Savoie (St. Albert, Alta.) finished fourth nationally with 23 goals this season, including six game-winners, which tied for second in the NCAA. Two of his game-winners came in the NCAA Tournament, with his first in the NCAA West Region Final against Minnesota Duluth and his other against Michigan in overtime in the Frozen Four Semifinals. The Edmonton Oilers prospect earned both Frozen Four and NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team honors for his efforts. Overall this season, Savoie compiled 45 points, which tied for sixth in the country, including 22 assists. He garnered Second-Team All-NCHC honors this season after tying for second in conference scoring with 25 points and finishing third with 13 goals.

Frank (Papillion, Neb.), who signed with the Hershey Bears of the AHL on Monday, finished as the nation’s top goal-scorer, potting 26 goals in 38 games this season. His 0.68 goals per game were also first in the NCAA. The AHCA Second-Team All-American handed out 13 assists, as well, for 39 points on the year. His six game-winning goals tied for second in the country, along with Savoie. Frank was a First-Team All-NCHC selection in 2022 after finishing tops in conference play with 16 goals, including four game-winners, and totaling 23 points in 23 NCHC games.

The six All-USCHO honorees are the NCHC’s most since 2017-18, when the NCHC also had six players recognized on the All-USCHO Teams.

The All-USCHO Teams were selected by the staff at U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO.com) following the NCAA Frozen Four. The 2021-22 USCHO.com Coach of the Year will be announced Wednesday, followed by the Rookie of the Year Thursday and Player of the Year Friday.

All-USCHO First Team
F: Ben Myers, Minnesota
F: Bobby Brink, Denver
F: Bobby Trivigno, UMass
D: Jake Sanderson, North Dakota
D: Zach Metsa, Quinnipiac
G: Dryden McKay, Minnesota State

All-USCHO Second Team
F: Nathan Smith, Minnesota State
F: Julian Napravnik, Minnesota State
F: Aidan McDonough, Northeastern
D: Mike Benning, Denver
D: Ronnie Attard, Western Michigan
G: Devon Levi, Northeastern

All-USCHO Third Team
F: Carter Savoie, Denver
F: Brian Halonen, Michigan Tech
F: Ethen Frank, Western Michigan
D: Owen Power, Michigan
D: Scott Morrow, UMass
G: Yaniv Perets, Quinnipiac

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