COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – While the winners will be revealed over the next few weeks throughout the NCHC’s postseason, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced the finalists for its 12 individual awards for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday.
 
Below are the three finalists for each award, with the first award winner being named on Friday.
 
2025-2026 NCHC INDIVIDUAL AWARD FINALISTS
 
Herb Brooks Coach of the Year
David Carle, Denver
Dane Jackson, North Dakota
Anthony Noreen, Miami
 
Player of the Year
Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State, Jr., F
Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So., F
Eric Pohlkamp, Denver, Jr., D
 
Senior Scholar-Athlete Award
Kent Anderson, Denver, D
Riley Bodnarchuk, Minnesota Duluth, D
Dylan James, North Dakota, F
 
Rookie of the Year
David Deputy, Miami, F
Cole Reschny, North Dakota, F
Jan Špunar, North Dakota, G
 
Goaltender of the Year
Matteo Drobac, Miami, So.
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, So.
Jan Špunar, North Dakota, Fr.
 
Offensive Defenseman of the Year
Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth, So.
Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Jr.
Eric Pohlkamp, Denver, Jr.
 
Defensive Defenseman of the Year
Adam Kleber, Minnesota Duluth, So.
Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Jr.
Bennett Zmolek, North Dakota, Sr.
 
Forward of the Year
Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State, Jr.
Cruz Lucius, Arizona State, Sr.
Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So.
 
Defensive Forward of the Year
Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State, Jr.
Dylan James, North Dakota, Sr.
Owen Michaels, Western Michigan, Jr.
 
*Three Stars Award
David Deputy, Miami, Fr., F
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, So., G
 
Sportsmanship Award
Blake Mesenburg, Miami, Sr., F
Grant Slukynsky, Western Michigan, Jr., F
Trevor Wong, Omaha, So., F
 
Media Excellence Award
Jim Erickson, St. Cloud State TV/radio
Robin Hook, Western Michigan radio
Matt Wellens, Duluth News Tribune
 
*Only two finalists listed with a four-way tie for third place in the Three Stars standings.
 
For eight of the awards, finalists were determined based on voting by the conference’s nine head coaches and one media member covering each of the NCHC’s nine programs, with the top three vote-getters 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 nine Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs). The Sportsmanship Award is voted on by conference and member school staff from submitted nominations by teams, while the Media Excellence Award is voted on by the conference’s sports information directors (SIDs) from submitted nominations. 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).
 
On Thursday, the NCHC will reveal its first Academic All-Conference Team, with one representative from each NCHC squad, while on Friday, the Conference will announce its 2026 Media Excellence Award winner. The 2025-26 NCHC All-Rookie Team will be unveiled next Monday, March 9, while the NCHC’s three All-Conference Teams will be announced on Tuesday, March 10. Individual award winners will then resume being released on March 11 and last through Thursday, March 19.
 
Upcoming NCHC awards announcements:

• Thursday, March 5 – NCHC Academic All-Conference Team (new award)
• Friday, March 6 – NCHC Media Excellence Award winner
• Monday, March 9 – NCHC All-Rookie Team
• Tuesday, March 10 – NCHC All-Conference Teams (3)
• Wednesday, March 11 – NCHC Sportsmanship Award and Three Stars Award winners