COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For his dedication to the profession and the sport of hockey, Matt Wellens of the Duluth News Tribune has been named the recipient of the 2026 NCHC Media Excellence Award, the Conference announced Friday. Wellens becomes the ninth winner of the NCHC Media Excellence Award, which has been presented annually since 2018.
 
Wellens has been the men's and women’s hockey beat writer for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs since the 2014-15 season, which was the second year of NCHC play. He has now covered the Bulldogs and the conference for 12 seasons, including two UMD men's National Championships, attending every in-person NCHC Media Day and nearly every Frozen Faceoff, even if Minnesota Duluth wasn't playing.
 
During the season, Wellens regularly writes feature stories on UMD student-athletes, previews for each series, and recaps for each game, in addition to his blog and podcast about the Bulldogs. He is always keeping UMD fans as informed as possible.
 
Wellens also consistently traveled to cover Minnesota Duluth away games – until the spring of 2024. Earlier that year in January, he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition (cardiac sarcoidosis), which required procedures, treatments and a change in lifestyle. For the 2024-25 season, Wellens did not travel, mainly attending home UMD games while making sure his heart was in good order.
 
Now, having modified his diet and with his heart condition under control, Wellens is back on the road this season, traveling regularly and covering the Bulldogs wherever they may go to provide readers with top-notch coverage.
 
The NCHC Media Excellence Award is voted on by the conference’s sports information directors (SIDs) from submitted nominations. To see past Media Excellence Award winners, click here.
 
The next NCHC awards to be announced will be the 2025-26 NCHC All-Rookie Team, which will be unveiled on Monday (March 9), while the NCHC’s three All-Conference Teams will be announced next Tuesday. Individual award winners will then resume being released on Wednesday, March 11 and last through Thursday, March 19.