Contact: Todd Bell, Marketing & Communications Manager /O: 952-681-7668 / C: 972-825-6686 / Email: [email protected] Web: wcha.com / Twitter: @wcha_mhockey / IG: @wcha_mhockey / FB: facebook.com/wchamenshockey / Watch on FloHockey.tv

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WCHA ANNOUNCES 2020-21 ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS All-WCHA and All-Academic teams honored

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – March 10, 2021 – The Men’s League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is proud to recognize the 23 student-athletes represented on the 2020-21 All-WCHA Teams, along with its 163 All-Academic Team honorees.

“WCHA Men’s League student-athletes have again shown that the talent and skill level of our league is amongst the very best in college hockey,” WCHA President and Men’s League Commissioner Bill Robertson said. “With all 10 member institutions well-represented on the All-Academic Team, we once again see the commitment to academic and athletic excellence that has been a hallmark of our league over the years. Congratulations to all of our All-WCHA honorees for their success as students and athletes in this most-unusual season.”

The top two seeds in the 2021 WCHA Playoffs are well-represented with 11 selections to the All-WCHA Teams from Minnesota State (seven) and Lake Superior State (four). Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Tech and Northern Michigan were represented by three players each.

2020-21 All-WCHA First Team The All-WCHA First Team is headlined by Minnesota State’s record-setting goaltender Dryden McKay. The 2021 Richter Award finalist has already set WCHA records for career saves (22) and single-season goals against average in league play (1.07) this season after backstopping the Mavericks to an unprecedented fourth consecutive MacNaughton Cup championship.

The Bowling Green senior duo of Brandon Kruse and Connor Ford are joined on the All-WCHA First Team forward line by Minnesota State’s Julian Napravnik. Kruse leads the league in scoring with 33 points on 11 goals and a WCHA-best 22 assists in 28 games this season. Ford enters the postseason tied for second in overall WCHA scoring with 28 points on a league-high 16 goals and 12 helpers. Napravnik has potted five game-winning goals for the Mavericks this season, which shares the NCAA lead.

The All-WCHA First Team blueline is manned by Bowling Green’s Will Cullen and Bemidji State’s Elias Rosén. Cullen tops all league defensemen in points (22), goals (six), assists (16), power-play assists (eight), power-play points (nine) and game-winning goals (two) in all games. Rosen, a WCHA All-Rookie selection a year ago, was the top-scoring defensemen in league play with nine points on two goals and seven assists.

2020-21 All-WCHA Second Team Northern Michigan’s Joseph Nardi, Minnesota State’s Nathan Smith and Lake Superior State’s Ashton Calder make up the front line on the All-WCHA Second Team. Nardi’s 28 points and 18 assists in the Wildcats’ 24 contests this season rank second in their respective categories for all games this season. Smith led the WCHA in power-play points in league with nine on three goals and six assists in 14 games. Calder skates into the postseason with 23 points on 12 goals and 11 assists for the Lakers.

- MORE -

Michigan Tech’s Colin Swoyer and Lake Superior State’s Will Riedell patrol the All-WCHA Second Team blueline. Swoyer, who was a four-time WCHA Defenseman of the Week pick this season, tops all league defenders with 69 shots on goal this season and ranks second in defenseman scoring with 16 points on three goals and 13 assists. Riedell’s two game-winning goals in league contests were the most by any defenseman this season.

Lake Superior State’s Mareks Mitens is the second team netminder. The Ventspils, Latvia, native has posted a 1.86 goals-against average this season and a .934 save percentage for the Lakers.

2020-21 All-WCHA Third Team Michigan Tech’s Trenton Bliss, Northern Michigan’s André Ghantous and Lake Superior State’s Pete Veillette make up the All-WCHA Third Team forward line. Bliss tops the Tech scoring chart this season with 25 points on 12 goals and 13 assists to rank No. 5 on the WCHA scoring chart. Ghantous won the WCHA scoring championship with a 6g-14a/20pts line in league play this season. Veillette has registered 21 points on 11 goals and 10 assists for Lake State this season.

The Minnesota State duo of freshman Akito Hirose and senior Riese Zmolek earn the All-WCHA Third Team nod at defenseman. Hirose is the lone freshman on the league’s first, second and third teams this season and is currently tied for second in scoring among league rookies with 13 points on a goal and 12 assists. The helper total also ranks second among rookies and tied for fourth among all defensemen. Maverick captain Zmolek leads an MSU defensive corps that tops the nation in goals allowed per game with a 1.45 average.

Bemidji State’s Zach Driscoll is the All-WCHA third team goaltender. Driscoll is the only league netminder to face more than 600 shots this season (683), stopping a league-high 630 in 23 contests for the Beavers this season. His career shutout total of 10 is tied for fourth among all active NCAA netminders.

2020-21 WCHA All-Rookie Team This year’s WCHA All-Rookie Team features a forward line that spans three continents. Michigan Tech’s Arvid Caderoth led all WCHA rookies in both overall and league scoring this season. In 28 total games, the Gothenburg, Sweden, native has registered 18 points on two goals and a WCHA rookie-best 16 assists. In league play, Caderoth finished with 10 points on 10 assists to again top the scoring chart. Bemidji State’s Lukas Sillinger is tied for second in rookie scoring as the playoffs begin. The Regina, Sask., native has potted five goals and dished out eight assists for 13 points in his rookie campaign. Alabama Huntsville’s Tyrone Bronte earned national Rookie of the Month honors in November. The Melbourne, Australia, native shares the WCHA rookie lead in power-play goals with three so far this season.

The All-Rookie defenseman corps hails from Mankato as Minnesota State’s Akito Hirose and Jake Livingstone are the picks on the blueline. Hirose was a two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week honoree and earned league Rookie of the Month honors in December. Livingstone is No. 2 in rookie defenseman scoring behind Hirose with seven points on a goal and six assists.

Northern Michigan’s Rico DiMatteo gets the nod in net for the All-Rookie team. After making his collegiate debut on Feb. 2, the Brasher Hills, N.Y., native posted a 4-4-1 mark in nine games for the Wildcats with one shutout, a .903 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average.

- MORE -

2020-21 All-WCHA Teams First Team Name Pos. Class School Hometown Brandon Kruse%+ F Sr. Bowling Green Saline, Mich. Julian Napravnik^ F Jr. Minnesota State Bad Nauheim, Germany Connor Ford& F Sr. Bowling Green Pittsburgh, Pa. Will Cullen D Jr. Bowling Green Pelham Manor, N.Y. Elias Rosén@ D So. Bemidji State Mora, Sweden Dryden McKay+^! G Jr. Minnesota State Downers Grove, Ill.

Second Team Name Pos. Class School Hometown Joseph Nardi F Sr. Northern Michigan Edmonton, Alta. Nathan Smith F So. Minnesota State Hudson, Fla. Ashton Calder^ F Jr. Lake Superior State Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Colin Swoyer D Jr. Michigan Tech Hinsdale, Ill. Will Riedell D Sr. Lake Superior State Greensboro, N.C. Mareks Mitens G Sr. Lake Superior State Ventspils, Latvia

Third Team Name Pos. Class School Hometown Trenton Bliss F Jr. Michigan Tech Appleton, Wis. Andre Ghantous F So. Northern Michigan Glendale, Calif. Pete Veillette F Jr. Lake Superior State Drummondville, Que. Akito Hirose D Fr. Minnesota State Calgary, Alta. Riese Zmolek D Sr. Minnesota State Rochester, Minn. Zach Driscoll# G Sr. Bemidji State Apple Valley, Minn.

WCHA All-Rookie Team Name Pos. Class School Hometown Arvid Caderoth F Fr. Michigan Tech Gothenburg, Sweden Lukas Sillinger F Fr. Bemidji State Regina, Sask. Tyrone Bronte F Fr. Alabama Huntsville Melbourne, Australia Akito Hirose D Fr. Minnesota State Calgary, Alta. Jake Livingstone D Fr. Minnesota State Creston, B.C. Rico DiMatteo G Fr. Northern Michigan Brasher Falls, N.Y.

! – denotes 2019-20 All-WCHA First Team # - denotes 2019-20 All-WCHA Second Team & - denotes 2019-20 All-WCHA Third Team @ - denotes 2019-20 WCHA All-Rookie Team + - denotes 2018-19 All-WCHA Second Team ^ - denotes 2018-19 WCHA All-Rookie Team % - denotes 2017-18 WCHA All-Rookie Team

- MORE -

2020-21 WCHA All-Academic Team A total of 163 student-athletes, representing all 10 WCHA Men’s League institutions, earned 2020-21 WCHA All- Academic Team honors. To be eligible for selection, a student-athlete must have completed one year of eligibility at his present institution prior to the current academic year with a grade point average of 3.0 or above for the prior two semesters or three quarters or may qualify if his overall GPA is 3.0 or better for all terms at his present institution.

Alabama Huntsville (10) Ben Allen (Jr., F, Allen, Texas), Lucas Bahn (So., D., Hendersonville, Tenn.), Adrian Danchenko (So., F, Palm City, Fla.), David Fessenden (So., G, Parker, Colo.), Peyton Francis (So., F, Oakville, Ont.), Drew Lennon (Jr., D, Bloomington, Ill.), Connor Merkley (Sr., F, Portland, Ont.), Jay Powell (D, Nashville, Tenn.), Tyr Thompson (Jr., F, Sherwood Park, Alta.), Connor Wood (Sr., F, Buford, Ga.)

Alaska-Anchorage (12) Brayden Camrud (So., F, Saskatoon, Sask.), Kris Carlson (Sr., G, Centerville, Va.), Zach Court (Jr., F, Winnipeg, Man.), Andrew Lane (Jr., D, Howell, Mich.), Zac Masson (Sr., F, Newmarket, Ont.), Aaron McPheters (Sr., D, Anchorage, ), Jared Nash (Jr., F, Stratford, Ont.), Drayson Pears (Jr., D, Shawnigan Lake, B.C.), Troy Robillard (So., D, Coquitlam, B.C.), Eric Sinclair (Sr., D, Kenora, Ont.), Joseph Sofo (Sr., F, Sylvania, Ohio), Kristian Stead (Jr., G, Merritt, B.C.)

Alaska (15) Colin Doyle (Jr., F, Cambellford, Ont.), Filip Fornaa Svensson (So., F, Linkoping, Sweden), Gustavs Grigals (Jr., G, Riga, Latvia), Didrik Henbrant (So., F, Linkoping, Sweden), Caleb Hite (Jr., F, Grand Blanc, Mich.), Kristaps Jakobsons (R-Fr., D, Tukums, Latvia), Chris Jandric (Jr, D, Prince George, B.C.), Roberts Kalkis (So., D, Riga, Latvia), Markuss Komuls (So., D, Talsi, Latvia), Jordan Muzzillo (Jr., D, Capron, Ill.), Max Newton (Sr., F, Vancouver, B.C.), Garrett Pyke (So., D, Toronto, Ont.), Antti Virtanen (Jr., D, Kittila, Finland), Justin Young (Sr., F, Leduc,Alta.), Eriks Zohovs (So., F, Riga, Latvia)

Bemidji State (18) Alex Adams (Jr., F, Grand Rapids, Minn.), Ross Armour (Jr., F, Trail, B.C.), Brad Belisle (So., F, Thunder Bay, Ont.), Michael Carr (So., G, Columbus, Ohio), Zach Driscoll (Sr., G, Apple Valley, Minn.), Darby Gula (Jr., D, Steinbach, Man.), Alex Ierullo (Jr., F, Woodbridge, Ont.), Brad Johnson (Sr., D, Chesterfield, Mo.), Carter Jones (So., F, Hillyard, Wash.), Tyler Jubenvill (Jr., D, Gilbert Plains, Man.), Tyler Kirkup (Jr., F, Virden, Man.), Kyle Looft (So., D, Mankato, Minn.), Elias Rosén (So., D, Mora, Sweden), Owen Sillinger (Jr., F, Regina, Sask.), Sam Solensky (So., F, Michalovce, Slovakia), Ethan Somoza (Sr., F, Simi Valley, Calif.), Tyler Vold (Sr., D, Andover, Minn.), Will Zmolek (So., D, Rochester, Minn.)

Bowling Green (23) Cam Babiak (So., D, Saline, Mich.), Alex Barber (Jr., F, Dublin, Ohio), Adam Conquest (So., F, Brighton, Mich), Sam Craggs (Sr., F, Elmhurst, Ill.), Will Cullen (Jr., D, Pelham Manor, N.Y.), Garrett Daly (So., D, Lakeville, Minn.), Chase Danol (So., F, Westland, Mich.), Eric Dop (Sr., G, Lewis Center, Ohio), Evan Dougherty (Jr., F, Kalamazoo, Mich.), Connor Ford (Sr., F, Pittsburgh, Pa.), Gavin Gould (Sr., F, North Vancouver, B.C.), Max Johnson (Sr., F, Lakeville, Minn.), Brandon Kruse (Sr., F, Saline, Mich.), T.J. Lloyd (So., D, Lloydminster, Sask.), Carson Musser (Sr., D, Grand Rapids, Mich.), Adam Pitters (So., F, Grosse Pointe, Mich.), Brett Rich (Sr., G, Bowling Green, Ohio), Zack Rose (So., G, Paradise, N.F.), Taylor Schneider (Jr., F, Lakeville, Minn.), Trevor St-Jean (Jr., F, Findlay, Ohio), Tim Theocharidis (Jr., D, Scarborough, Ont.), Justin Wells (Sr., D, North Canton, Ohio), Cameron Wright (Sr., F, Newmarket, Ont.)

- MORE -

Ferris State (16) Jason Bracheau (So., F, Brownstown, Mich.), Blake Evennou (So., D, Macomb, Mich.), Connor Fedorek (So., D, Bethel Park, Pa.), Cade Kowalski (So., F, Morden, Man.), Liam MacDougall (Sr., F, Windsor, Ont.), Brenden MacLaren (So., F, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Carter McPhail (So., G, Fenton, Mich.), Justin Michaelian (So., F, Wixom, Mich.), Marshall Moise (Sr., F, St. Clair Shores, Mich.), Coale Norris (Jr., F, Oxford, Mich.), Brenden Rons (So., D, Farmington Hills, Mich.), Roni Salmenkangas (So., G, Tampere, Finland), Ethan Stewart (Jr., F, Rockford, Ill.), Jake Transit (Jr. F, Royal Oak, Mich.), Dallas Tulik (So., F, Kalamazoo, Mich.), Jake Willets (So., D, Erie, Mich.)

Lake Superior State (16) Alex Ambrosio (Sr., F, Burnaby, B.C.), Louis Boudon (So., F, Grenoble, France), Ashton Calder (Jr., F, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Seth Eisele (So., G, Lake Elmo, Minn.), Hampus Eriksson (Sr., F, Forsbacka, Sweden), Chase Gamelin (Sr., F, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Arvid Henrikson (So., D, Stockholm, Sweden), Lukas Kaelble (Sr., D, Mannheim, Germany), Dustin Manz (So., F, Vanderbilt, Mich.), Mareks Mitens (Sr., G, Ventspils, Latvia), Yuki Miura (Sr., F, Tokyo, Japan), Miroslav Mucha (Jr., F, Bytca, Slovakia), Jacob Nordqvist (Jr., D, Gothenburg, Sweden), Mitchell Oliver (Jr., D, Kelowna, B.C.), Will Riedell (Sr., D, Greensboro, N.C.), Pete Veillette (Jr., F, Drummondville, Que.)

Michigan Tech (17) Trenton Bliss (Jr., F, Appleton, Wis.), Alec Broetzman (Jr., F, Hudson, Wis.), Tyrell Buckley (Jr., D, Penticton, B.C.), Brenden Datema (So., D, Sterling Heights, Mich.), Eric Gotz (Jr., D, Hermantown, Minn.), Brian Halonen (Jr., F, Delano, Minn.), Justin Misiak (Sr., F, St. Clair Shores, Mich.), Tommy Parrottino (Jr., F, Rochester Hills, Mich.), Blake Pietila (So., G, Howell, Mich.), Logan Pietila (So., F, Howell, Mich.), TJ Polglaze (Jr., F, Beloit, Wis.), David Raisanen (Sr., F, Cokato, Minn.), Greyson Reitmeier (Sr., F, Nakusp, B.C.), Tyler Rockwell (Sr., D, San Jose, Calif.), Marcus Russell (Sr., F, Traverse City, Mich.), Colin Swoyer (Jr., D, Hinsdale, Ill.), Cooper Watson (Sr., D, Appleton, Wis.)

Minnesota State (20) Wyatt Aamodt (Jr., D, Hermantown, Minn.), Cade Borchardt (So., F, Burnsville, Minn.), Colby Bukes (So., D, Littleton, Colo.), Andy Carroll (Jr., D, Northfield, Minn.), Walker Duehr (Sr., F, Sioux Falls, S.D.), Evan Foss (So., G, White Bear Lake, Minn.), Brendan Furry (So., F, Toledo, Ohio), Dallas Gerads (Sr., F, Blaine, Minn.), Jake Jaremko (Sr., F, Nowthen, Minn.), Reggie Lutz (Sr., F, Elk River, Minn.), Tony Malinowski (So., D, Clarkston, Mich.), Dryden McKay (Jr., G, Downers Grove, Ill.), Shane McMahan (Jr., F., Lakewood, Colo.), Jack McNeely (Sr., D, Lakeville, Minn.), Ryan Sandelin (So., F, Hermantown, Minn.), Nathan Smith (So., F, Hudson, Fla.), Lucas Sowder (So., F, Trinity, Fla.) , Jared Spooner (Sr., F, Bismarck, N.D.), Chris Van Os-Shaw (Jr., F, Regina, Sask.), Riese Zmolek (Sr., D, Rochester, Minn.)

Northern Michigan (16) Vincent De Mey (Jr., F, Los Angeles, Calif.), André Ghantous (So., F, Glendale, Calif.), John Hawthorne (So., G, Chemainus, B.C.), Jett Jungels (R-Fr., F, Edina, Minn.), Nolan Kent (Jr., G, Chestermere, Alta.), Garrett Klee (Jr., F, Morrison, Colo), Griffin Loughran (Jr., F, West Seneca, N.Y.), Joseph Nardi (Sr., F, Edmonton, Alta.), Ben Newhouse (Sr., D, Edina, Minn.), Mason Palmer (So., D, Plymouth, Minn.), Ty Readman (Jr., F, Edmonton, Alta.), John Roberts (So., G, Lansdale, Pa.), Brandon Schultz (Sr., F, Estero, Fla.), Michael Van Unen (So., D, Kamloops,B.C.), AJ Vanderbeck (So., F, Denver, Colo.), Tanner Vescio (So., D, Blaine, Minn.)

About the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s League The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, among the most historic, tradition-rich and successful conferences in all of collegiate athletics, is marking its 69th season of men’s competition in 2020-21. The 10-team NCAA Division I conference consists of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Chargers), the University of Alaska Anchorage (Seawolves), the University of Alaska (Nanooks), (Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons), (Bulldogs), Lake Superior State University (Lakers), Michigan Technological University (Huskies), Minnesota State University (Mavericks) and Northern Michigan University (Wildcats). For more information, visit wcha.com.

- WCHA –