COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - While the winners won’t be announced until next Thursday night, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) unveiled the finalists for 11 of its individual awards for the 2022-23 season on Thursday. The winners will be revealed at the annual NCHC Awards Celebration, on the eve of the 2023 NCHC Frozen Faceoff on Thursday, March 16 at the St. Paul Event Center.
 
2022-23 NCHC INDIVIDUAL AWARD FINALISTS
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Magnus Chrona, Sr., G, Denver
Jami Krannila, Sr., F, St. Cloud State
Jason Polin, Sr., F, Western Michigan
 
HERB BROOKS COACH OF THE YEAR
David Carle, Denver
Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan
Mike Gabinet, Omaha
 
SENIOR SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
Ethan Frisch, D, North Dakota
Jason Polin, F, Western Michigan
Kirby Proctor, D, Omaha
 
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jackson Blake, F, North Dakota
Kaidan Mbereko, G, Colorado College
Ryan McAllister, F, Western Michigan
 
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
Magnus Chrona, Sr., Denver
Simon Latkoczy, Fr., Omaha
Kaidan Mbereko, Fr., Colorado College
 
FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Jami Krannila, Sr., St. Cloud State
Jason Polin, Sr., Western Michigan
Massimo Rizzo, So., Denver
 
OFFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Mike Benning, Jr., Denver
Zak Galambos, Sr., Western Michigan
Chris Jandric, Gr., North Dakota
Jack Peart, So., St. Cloud State
 
DEFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR
Aidan Fulp, Jr., Western Michigan
Justin Lee, Sr., Denver
Victor Mancini, So., Omaha
 
DEFENSIVE FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Jami Krannila, Sr., St. Cloud State
Carter Mazur, So., Denver
Micah Miller, 5th-Sr., St. Cloud State
Nolan Sullivan, Sr., Omaha
 
THREE STARS AWARD FINALISTS
Magnus Chrona, Sr., G, Denver
Carter Mazur, So., F, Denver
Kaidan Mbereko, Fr., G, Colorado College
 
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD FINALISTS
Jack Clement, Sr., D, Miami
Spencer Meier, 5th-Sr., D, St. Cloud State
Jason Polin, Sr., F, Western Michigan
 
For eight of the awards, finalists were determined based on voting by the conference’s eight head coaches and one media member from each school with the top three vote-getters (plus ties) for each award being named finalists. The Senior Scholar-Athlete Award finalists were voted upon by the conference’s Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs). Athletic Directors at each NCHC institution had a vote on Herb Brooks Coach of the Year, as well, along with the coaches and media.
 
The Three Stars Award finalists are based on the highest point totals of ‘Stars of the Game’ points earned during conference games only (5 for first star, 3 for second star, 1 for third star). The Sportsmanship Award is voted on by conference staff from submitted nominations by member schools.
 
In addition to these 11 award winners, the sixth-annual NCHC Media Excellence Award will also be presented at the NCHC Awards Celebration. The NCHC recognized its All-Conference Teams on Wednesday and its All-Rookie Team on Tuesday, while the NCHC announced its all-academic teams in February.