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 2023-24 season on Thursday. The winners will be revealed at the annual NCHC Awards Celebration, on the eve of the 2024 NCHC Frozen Faceoff, on Thursday, March 21 at the St. Paul Event Center in Saint Paul, Minn.
 
2023-24 NCHC INDIVIDUAL AWARD FINALISTS
 
Herb Brooks Coach of the Year
Brad Berry, North Dakota
David Carle, Denver
Kris Mayotte, Colorado College
 
Player of the Year
Jackson Blake, So., F, North Dakota
Jack Devine, Jr., F, Denver
Kaidan Mbereko, So., G, Colorado College
 
Senior Scholar-Athlete Award
Dominic Basse, G, St. Cloud State
Luke Grainger, F, Western Michigan
Matt Miller, F, Omaha
 
Rookie of the Year
Zeev Buium, D, Denver
Alex Bump, F, Western Michigan
Jake Livanavage, D, North Dakota
 
Goaltender of the Year
Simon Latkoczy, So., Omaha
Kaidan Mbereko, So., Colorado College
Ludvig Persson, Sr., North Dakota
 
Forward of the Year
Jackson Blake, So., North Dakota
Jack Devine, Jr., Denver
Noah Laba, So., Colorado College
 
Offensive Defenseman of the Year
Dylan Anhorn, 5th, St. Cloud State
Shai Buium, Jr., Denver
Zeev Buium, Fr., Denver
 
Defensive Defenseman of the Year
Nicklas Andrews, Sr., Colorado College
Sean Behrens, Jr., Denver
Shai Buium, Jr., Denver
 
Defensive Forward of the Year
Cameron Berg, Jr., North Dakota
Carter King, Jr., Denver
Noah Laba, So., Colorado College
 
Sportsmanship Award
Darian Gotz, Sr., D, Minnesota Duluth
Veeti Miettinen, Sr., F, St. Cloud State
Dylan Wendt, Jr., F, Western Michigan
 
Three Stars Award
Jackson Blake, So., F, North Dakota
Noah Laba, So., F, Colorado College
Veeti Miettinen, Sr., F, St. Cloud State
 
For eight of the awards, finalists were determined based on voting by the conference’s eight head coaches and one media member covering each school with the top three vote-getters (plus ties) for each award being named finalists. 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 Senior Scholar-Athlete Award is voted upon by the conference’s eight Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs). The Sportsmanship Award is voted on by an awards committee consisting of NCHC Chairs and conference staff from submitted nominations by member schools. 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).
 
In addition to these 11 award winners, the seventh-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.