2010-11 Midseason WCHA Honors

Every year, I submit a pre-season and post-season ballot. The pre-season ballot calls for prognostication and guesswork. The post-season ballot is for the All-WCHA Teams, as well as major individual awards. I am one of a few dozen people given the honor of helping to make these selections.

Though we don't have any organized mid-season awards, I tend to enjoy taking some time to organize some thoughts at the halfway point of the season.

Obviously, all of this is subject to change in early March, but here's a look at how my ballot would look if the season ended today. With 12 teams now in the league, the play on the ice might be tougher, but selections like this definitely are!

FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Mike Connolly, UMD
Jack Connolly, UMD
Matt Frattin, North Dakota
Defensemen
Justin Schultz, Wisconsin
Chay Genoway, North Dakota
Goalie
Aaron Dell, North Dakota
SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Justin Fontaine, UMD
Craig Smith, Wisconsin
Drew Shore, Denver
Defensemen
Jake Gardiner, Wisconsin
Justin Faulk, UMD
Goalie
Sam Brittain, Denver
THIRD TEAM
Forwards
Mark Zengerle, Wisconsin
Jaden Schwartz, Colorado College
Matt Ambroz, Nebraska-Omaha
Defensemen
Kurt Davis, Minnesota State
Matt Donovan, Denver
Goalie
John Faulkner, Nebraska-Omaha

Apologies to ...
Forwards
Corban Knight, North Dakota; Drew LeBlanc, St. Cloud State; Joey Martin, Nebraska-Omaha; Rylan Schwartz, Colorado College
Defensemen
Gabe Guentzel, Colorado College; David Makowski, Denver; Ben Youds, Minnesota State
Goalies
Dan Bakala, Bemidji State; Scott Gudmandson, Wisconsin

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Forwards
Jaden Schwartz, Colorado College
Mark Zengerle, Wisconsin
Jason Zucker, Denver
Defensemen
Justin Faulk, UMD
David Makowski, Denver
Goalie
Sam Brittain, Denver

WCHA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Connolly, F, UMD
WCHA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jaden Schwartz, F, Colorado College
WCHA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aaron Dell, G, North Dakota