COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – College Hockey News (CHN) unveiled its 2022-23 All-CHN Teams on Thursday with six National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) players garnering recognition for outstanding seasons. Three earned a spot on one of three All-CHN Teams, while the other three received Honorable Mention.

Western Michigan senior forward Jason Polin was selected to the All-CHN First Team, while Denver junior defenseman Mike Benning was named to the All-CHN Second Team and Colorado College freshman goaltender Kaidan Mbereko collected All-CHN Rookie Team honors. Denver sophomore forward Carter Mazur, St. Cloud State grad student forward Grant Cruikshank and Western Michigan senior defenseman Zak Galambos were tabbed Honorable Mention by College Hockey News.

Polin (Holt, Mich.) was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, the NCHC Player and Forward of the Year, and a First-Team All-NCHC selection in 2022-23. The WMU captain led the NCAA with 30 goals this season, which set an NCHC single-season record, becoming only the third NCAA player in the last six seasons to reach the mark. His five hat tricks also led the NCAA and set an NCHC record. Polin finished his season with 47 points, which tied for eighth in the NCAA, in 39 games. He signed an NHL contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

Benning (St. Albert, Alta.) was the 2022-23 NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year and also a First-Team All-NCHC selection. The Florida Panthers draft pick led all NCHC blueliners with 34 points in 39 games this season, ranking fifth nationally among defensemen. Benning’s 13 goals on the year ranked third among NCAA rearguards. The two-time NCHC Player of the Month this season led the Pioneers to the Penrose Cup, while posting a +24 plus/minus.

Mbereko (Aspen, Colo.) was a Second-Team All-NCHC selection this season and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. The two-time NCHC Goaltender of the Month posted a .925 save percentage as a freshman, leading all NCHC netminders and all NCAA rookies, as well as ranking fifth nationally overall. Mbereko posted a 9-16-2 record in 30 games at CC, while recording a 2.30 goals-against average and four shutouts, which tied for the NCHC lead and was second among NCAA freshmen.

Mazur (Jackson, Mich.) was a Second-Team All-NCHC pick this season, totaling 37 points and scoring 22 goals, which tied for fifth in the NCAA. He signed an NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Cruikshank (Delafield, Wis.) finished tied for third in the NCAA with 23 goals, while totaling 38 points in 41 games in his first and only season with the Huskies. Galambos (Walnut Creek, Calif.) totaled 29 points (11g/18a) in 39 games in his first year with the Broncos, with the 11 goals ranking fourth among NCAA blueliners.

The All-CHN Teams are selected by the staff of College Hockey News. The NCHC has seen at least three players selected to the All-CHN Teams in each of the conference’s 10 seasons to date.
 
All-CHN First Team
F: Logan Cooley, Fr., Minnesota
F: Adam Fantilli, Fr., Michigan
F: Jason Polin, Sr., Western Michigan
D: Luke Hughes, So., Michigan
D: Lane Hutson, Fr., Boston University
G: Devon Levi, Jr., Northeastern
 
All-CHN Second Team
F: Collin Graf, Jr., Quinnipiac
F: Matthew Knies, So., Minnesota
F: Jimmy Snuggerud, Fr., Minnesota
D: Mike Benning, Jr., Denver
D: Jackson Lacombe, Sr., Minnesota
G: Yaniv Perets, Jr., Quinnipiac
 
All-CHN Rookie Team
F: Logan Cooley, Minnesota
F: Adam Fantilli, Michigan
F: Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota
D: Seamus Casey, Michigan
D: Lane Hutson, Boston University
G: Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College