TAMPA, Fla. – Four National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) players have been named 2022-23 CCM/AHCA All-Americans, as the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced the All-American Teams Friday night at Sparkman Wharf as part of the awards show at the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four.
 
Three of the four NCHC All-Americans this season are Denver Pioneers, as sophomore forwards Carter Mazur (Jackson, Mich.) and Massimo Rizzo (Burnaby, B.C.) are joined by junior defenseman Mike Benning (St. Albert, Alta.) on the AHCA West All-American Second Team. Western Michigan senior forward Jason Polin (Holt, Mich.) was also named a Second-Team All-American along with the trio of Pioneers, giving the NCHC four of the six Second-Team West All-Americans.
 
Denver is one of only four teams with three All-Americans this season, along with Minnesota, Quinnipiac and Harvard. A total of 24 players from 13 different teams were honored as All-Americans, with 12 on the East Teams and 12 on the West Teams.
 
Polin was a Hobey Baker Award top-10 finalist, the NCHC Player and Forward of the Year, and a First-Team All-NCHC selection in 2022-23. The WMU captain tied for the NCAA lead with 30 goals this season, which set an NCHC single-season record, becoming one of only four NCAA players in the last six seasons to reach the mark. His five hat tricks this year also led the NCAA and set an NCHC record. Polin finished his season with 47 points, which tied for ninth in the NCAA, including 17 assists, in 39 games (1.21 points/game). His +26 plus/minus tied for 15th nationally. The Michigan native was a two-time NCHC Player of the Week and the Conference’s November Player of the Month. Polin was named to the All-CHN First Team by College Hockey News this year, as well. He signed an NHL contract with the Colorado Avalanche on March 29.

Mazur, a Second-Team All-NCHC pick this season, tied for fifth nationally with 22 goals this season in 40 games, while helping lead Denver to the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champions. Six of his goals were game-winners, tying for third in the NCAA. The DU assistant captain compiled 37 points, chipping in 15 assists, to average 0.93 points per game. He posted a +19 plus/minus and was a finalist for NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year. Mazur was a two-time NCHC Player of the Week this season and the NCHC Rookie of the Year last season in 2021-22. He signed an NHL contract with his hometown Detroit Red Wings on March 28.
 
Rizzo was a First-Team All-NCHC selection this year and a finalist for NCHC Forward of the Year. The sophomore won the 2022-23 NCHC scoring title with 31 points in 24 conference games, while racking up 46 points overall in 38 games, ranking 11th nationally in scoring. Rizzo recorded 17 goals and dished out 29 assists, which tied for 12th in the NCAA. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick posted a +24 plus/minus, tying for 18th in the NCAA. Rizzo captured the Penrose Cup with Mazur and Benning, while twice being named NCHC Forward of the Week this year.
 
Benning 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, tying for fifth nationally in points among defensemen. Benning’s 13 goals on the year ranked third among NCAA rearguards, including an NCAA-best seven power play tallies among defensemen. He also handed out 21 assists from the blue line. The two-time NCHC Player of the Month this season helped lead the Pioneers to the Penrose Cup, while posting a +24 plus/minus, which tied for ninth among NCAA blueliners. Benning was also tabbed Second-Team All-CHN by College Hockey News this season and was a two-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week in 2022-23.
 
The AHCA Division I Men’s All-American teams are sponsored by CCM Hockey and chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association, including the 60 NCAA Division I men’s head coaches. To see the complete AHCA Division I Men’s All-American Teams, click here.
 
This marks the first year in the NCHC’s 10-year history that the Conference did not have at least one First-Team All-American. The NCHC has now produced 55 All-Americans since its inaugural 2013-14 season, including 27 First-Teamers.
 
AHCA WEST ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
G: Ryan Bischel, Sr., Notre Dame
D: Mike Benning, Jr., Denver
D: Jake Livingston, Jr., Minnesota State
F: Carter Mazur, So., Denver
F: Jason Polin, Sr., Western Michigan
F: Massimo Rizzo, So., Denver