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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WCHA ANNOUNCES 1990s ALL-DECADE TEAM PRESENTED BY ANDERSON’S PURE MAPLE SYRUP AND SPIRE CREDIT UNION Johnson, Bonin, Swanson, Crowley, Naumenko and Goehring honored

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Feb. 16, 2021 – Six players representing three schools have been named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s, the WCHA announced Tuesday.

Named to the 1990s squad were forwards Greg Johnson of North Dakota, of and of Colorado College; defensemen of Minnesota and Nick Naumenko of North Dakota and goaltender Karl Goehring of North Dakota.

The five skaters combined for 337 goals, 680 assists and 1,017 during their collegiate careers while Goehring posted a .918 save percentage and a 2.23 GAA for the Fighting Sioux during his time in Grand Forks.

The WCHA will announce its 1990s Coach of the Decade on Feb. 17 and its Player of the Decade on Feb. 18.

The 1990s team is the fifth of seven squads that will be announced by the WCHA during the 2020-21 season. The WCHA will also honor an outstanding head coach and player from each decade as the league celebrates 70 Years of Excellence.

For more on the 1990s and the rest of the WCHA’s history, visit wcha.com.

WCHA 1990s All-Decade Team Name Pos. School Years Hometown By The Numbers Greg Johnson F North Dakota 1989-93 Thunder Bay, Ont. 74 G/198 A/272 Pts Brian Bonin F Minnesota 1992-96 White Bear Lake, Minn. 100 G/116 A/216 Pts Brian Swanson F Colorado College 1995-99 Eagle River, Alaska 88 G/144 A/232 Pts Mike Crowley D Minnesota 1994-97 Bloomington, Minn. 37 G/120 A/157 Pts Nick Naumenko D North Dakota 1992-96 Chicago, Ill. 38 G/102 A/140 Pts Karl Goehring G North Dakota 1997-2001 Apple Valley, Minn. 118 Gms/.918 Sv. Pct./2.23 GAA

Forwards Greg Johnson, North Dakota (Thunder Bay, Ont.), 1989-93 Named to the WCHA’s Top 50 Players in 50 Years list in 2002 … Named to AHCA All-Time West Team in 1997 … WCHA career assists leader with 198 helpers … Ranks sixth on WCHA’s career scoring chart and is North Dakota's all-time scoring leader with 272 career points in 155 games … The only three-time Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist (1991, 1992, 1993) in UND history … Three-time All-American (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93) … Three-time All-WCHA honoree (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93) … Three-time WCHA All-Academic Team selection (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93) … Tallied 50 assists as a freshman in 1989-90, one of just four rookies in WCHA history to hit that mark … Following college, spent two seasons with Canadian National Team … Won a gold medal with Canada at the 1991 World Junior Championship … Also represented Canada at the 1994 Winter Olympics … Went on to enjoy a 12-year NHL career with Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Nashville. - MORE –

Brian Bonin, Minnesota (White Bear Lake, Minn.), 1992-96 Became the WCHA’s seventh Hobey Baker winner in 1996 … Hobey Baker finalist in 1995 … One of three players in WCHA history to earn league MVP/Player of the Year honors twice and one of just two to earn the honor in consecutive seasons (1994-95, 1995-96) … Two-time All-American (1994-95, 1995-96) … Two-time All-WCHA (1994-95, 1995-96) … WCHA All-Rookie selection in 1992-93 … Three-time WCHA All-Academic Team honoree … Led the nation in scoring as a senior in 1995-96 with 81 points on 34 goals and 47 assists … Led the Gophers in scoring as a junior and as a senior … Helped Minnesota to four-straight NCAA tournament appearances in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 and back-to-back Frozen Four berths in 1994 and 1995 … Added three WCHA Playoff championships during his tenure … Served as team captain as a senior … Ranks sixth all-time at Minnesota in scoring and seventh in goals scored.

Brian Swanson, Colorado College (Eagle River, Alaska), 1995-99 Named to the WCHA’s Top 50 Players in 50 Years list in 2002 … WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1995-96 … Two-time WCHA Scoring Champion, sharing the honor in 1996-97 (42 points) and 1997-98 (34 points) … One of just seven players in WCHA history to win consecutive league scoring crowns … Two-time All-American (1997-98, 1998-99) … Four-time All- WCHA honoree (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99) … WCHA All-Rookie Team selection in 1995-96 … No. 2 on Colorado College’s career scoring chart with 232 points on 88 goals and 144 assists … Member of the WCHA All-Star team that competed in the 1998 Kolin Cup in Zug, Switzerland.

Defensemen Mike Crowley, Minnesota (Bloomington, Minn.), 1994-97 Two-time All-American (1995-96, 1996-97) … Two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist (1996, 1997) … WCHA Player of the Year in 1996-97 … WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1994-95 … Shared WCHA Scoring Champion honors in 1996-97, tallying 42 points on five goals and 37 assists in 32 WCHA contests … One of only two defensemen in WCHA history to win the league scoring crown, joining fellow Minnesota alum and 1960s All-Decade honoree Lou Nanne (1962-63) … Three-time All-WCHA selection (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97) … WCHA All-Rookie Team (1994-95) … WCHA All-Academic Team honoree in 1995-96 … Led the Gophers to the 1995 NCAA Frozen Four … Helped Minnesota to the 1996 WCHA postseason title … Led Minnesota in scoring during the 1996-97 season as the Maroon & Gold won the WCHA regular- season championship while serving as a team captain … Played in 67 career NHL games with the … Earned a bronze medal with the United States at the 1996 IIHF World Championship … Represented the U.S. at the 1995 IIHF World Junior Championship … Minnesota’s 1994 Mr. Hockey Award winner as a senior at Bloomington Jefferson High School.

Nick Naumenko, North Dakota (Chicago, Ill.), 1992-96 Four-time All-WCHA honoree (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96) … WCHA All-Rookie Team selection in 1992-93 … No. 2 on North Dakota career defenseman scoring chart with 140 career points on 38 goals and 102 assists … Ranks among the WCHA’s career leaders in defenseman goals and assists … His 38 career goals are the most among UND blueliners … Also tops all North Dakota defensemen in career power-play goals with 20 … Holds North Dakota’s single- season defenseman goals record with 13 goals in 1994-95.

Goaltender Karl Goehring, North Dakota (Apple Valley, Minn.), 1997-2001 Named to the WCHA’s Top 50 Players in 50 Years list in 2002, just one year after finishing his college career … Two-time All-American (1997-98, 1999-2000) … WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1997-98 … WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year in 2000-01 … Three-time All-WCHA (1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000) … WCHA All-Rookie Team pick in 1997-98 … Backstopped North Dakota to three WCHA regular season titles (1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000) and the 1999-2000 national championship … His 80 career wins are tied for sixth in WCHA history while his .765 winning percentage ranks No. 3 among league netminders … Ranks sixth in league history in shutouts with 15 … The wins, winning percentage and shutout marks are North Dakota records. - MORE –

Other Top Players of the 1990s Forwards Jason Blake, North Dakota, 1996-99: Tallied 171 points on 71 goals and 100 assists for the Fighting Sioux … WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Scoring Champion in 1998-99 … Two-time All-American and three-time All-WCHA selection. Derek Plante, Minnesota Duluth, 1989-93: Recorded 219 points on 96 goals and 123 assists during his career … WCHA Player of the Year and WCHA Scoring Champion in 1992-93. Dallas Drake, Northern Michigan, 1988-92: First WCHA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner in 1991-92 … Four-time All-WCHA selection … Member of Northern Michigan’s 1990-91 national championship squad.

Defensemen , North Dakota, 1994-98: Two-time All-American and All-WCHA selection (1996-97, 1997-98) … 1998 Hobey Baker Award finalist … Member of North Dakota’s 1996-97 national championship squad. Brett Hedican, St. Cloud State, 1998-91: Recorded 77 career points on 27 goals and 50 assists for the Huskies … All-WCHA honoree and WCHA All-Academic selection as a senior in 1990-91. Brian Rafalski, Wisconsin, 1991-95: WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-America and All-WCHA in 1994-95 … WCHA All-Rookie Team selection in 1991-92.

Goaltenders Duane Derksen, Wisconsin, 1988-92: WCHA Player of the Year in 1991-92 … WCHA Goaltending Champion in 1989-90 … Two-time All-WCHA honoree … Earned All-America honors in 1991-92. Ryan Bach, Colorado College, 1992-96: Two-time All-American and All-WCHA (1994-95, 1995-96) … Backstopped Colorado College to the 1996 national championship came. Jamie Ram, Michigan Tech, 1990-94: Two-time All-American and All-WCHA (1992-93, 1993-94) … WCHA All- Rookie Team (1990-91) … Ranks second in Michigan Tech history in games (115) and saves (3,336).

Celebrating 70 Years of Excellence The Western Collegiate Hockey Association will celebrate 70 Years of Excellence throughout the 2020-21 season. The league will name all-decade teams and players and coaches of the decade for each of its seven decades. The teams and individuals will be selected by a panel of current and former WCHA staffers and media members who have or are currently covering the WCHA. More than 200 nominees were submitted for consideration by the 21 schools that have called the WCHA home since 1951.

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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), Bemidji State University (Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons), Ferris State University (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 –