Here is the WCHA's annual awards release, which came out earlier Thursday.
St. Cloud State University forward Drew LeBlanc, a driving force behind the Huskies’ success in earning a share of the program’s first-ever conference regular season championship and MacNaughton Cup, has been honored as both the WCHA Player of the Year and the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year to highlight the league’s individual men’s awards for 2012-13 as announced by the conference today (March 14).
A senior from Hermantown, Minn., LeBlanc becomes the first league player to earn both of these prestigious awards. He is also a member of the All-WCHA First Team. The offensive catalyst behind the Huskies’ drive to first place in the 2012-13 WCHA regular season standings, LeBlanc led the league with 25 assists and also had 10 goals for 35 points in conference play while charting 10 multiple-point games in WCHA action. Overall, he leads all Division 1 players this winter with 34 assists and ranks fourth in the nation with 46 points scored. A four- time recipient of the WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award and a four-time All-WCHA Academic Team honoree, LeBlanc has served as a team captain for the past two seasons at SCSU. He has helped the Huskies post a league-leading 3.36 goals per game in conference action and overall, SCSU ranks fourth in the nation with 119 goals scored. The Huskies enter the WCHA playoffs ranked eighth in the latest Division 1 national polls and own a 21-14-1 overall and 18-9-1 league record. A math education major, LeBlanc is currently completing his student teaching at nearby St. Cloud Apollo High School. He carries a cumulative grade-point average of 3.64, was a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree in both 2010 and 2011, and has participated in numerous community service activities during his collegiate years, including programs such as Skate With the Huskies and Husky Haulers, helping first-year students move into their dormitories. Over his four-year St. Cloud State career, LeBlanc owns the program record for games played at 165, ranks sixth in career points with 143 and is third with 102 assists.
The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Award is determined from nominations made by the member institutions and each institution then has one final vote. The criteria is as follows: 1) must be a senior student-athlete, i.e. one who is finishing his competition as an eligible player in the WCHA; 2) consistently displays outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice; 3) is a good student making satisfactory progress toward a degree; and 4) is a good hockey player who has performed consistently as a regular member of the team.
The league’s five other major individual awards for 2012-13 went to St. Cloud State University defenseman Nick Jensen as WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Minnesota State University goaltender Stephon Williams as WCHA Rookie of the Year, University of Nebraska Omaha forward Ryan Walters as WCHA Scoring Champion, Williams as WCHA Goaltending Champion, and Minnesota State University first-year mentor Mike Hastings as WCHA Coach of the Year.
The league’s 12 head coaches voted St. Cloud State defenseman Nick Jensen as the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. A junior from Rogers, Minn., and an All-WCHA First Team choice, Jensen has been a leader on the Huskies’ blueline throughout the 2012-13 campaign. In WCHA play this winter, he has scored four goals and added 19 assists along with a substantial +15 rating on the plus/minus. A leader in minutes played on defense for the Huskies, Jensen consistently faces the opposition’s top lines and has helped SCSU’s defense limit league opponents to just 2.36 goals per game. Among WCHA defenders, Jensen led the league with 19 assists and was second with 23 points. He has also posted 27 blocked shots in league play this season. In overall games played, Jensen ranks eighth among Division 1 defensemen with 28 points and second with 24 assists this season. He is +17 on the plus/minus for all games and has 36 blocked shots A two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and All-WCHA Academic Team selection, Jensen was named to the All-WCHA Second Team in 2011-12. An ironman for the Huskies, Jensen has started in 113 consecutive games and has notched 15 goals and 68 assists during his first three seasons in St. Cloud.
Honored by voters as the WCHA Rookie of the Year for 2012-13 is Minnesota State freshman goaltender Stephon Williams, who also earned All-WCHA First Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team accolades and was the WCHA Goaltending Champion. From Fairbanks, Alaska, Williams, stands 19-9-2 overall (tied for 11th in the country in winning percentage at .667), with a 1.83 goals-against average (sixth in the country) and a .929 save percentage (14 in the country). The two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week finished the WCHA regular season leading the league in goals-against average (1.93), ranking second in save percentage (.927) and third in wins (15). Williams also has four shutouts this season, which stands tied for third on MSU’s single-season list, and he has started the last 27 games in a row for the Mavericks and has started 29 of MSU’s 36 games in 2012-13.
The WCHA Scoring Champion for 2012-13 is University of Nebraska Omaha forward Ryan Walters, who also earned All-WCHA First Team accolades while having one of the finest seasons in UNO history. A junior from Rosemount, Minn., Walters topped all league skaters with 40 points in 28 conference games, scoring 16 goals and adding 24 assists while also averaging a league-best 1.43 points per game. He had 50 points overall during the regular season, a total that ties for third best in school history, and he is just the third Maverick to score 50 or more points in a season. He ranks second in the NCAA in overall points (21-29=50) and has scored points in 26 of the last 29 games (21-26=47). Walters was named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association national player of the month for November, posting six goals and nine assists for 15 points and a +8 rating in seven games to help the Mavericks to a perfect 7-0-0 record. During that stretch, he scored goals in five straight games. Walters’ 21 goals are tied fifth best in UNO history, he is just two points from becoming the 13th Maverick to score 100 career points, and he has played in 111 consecutive games.
The WCHA Coach of the Year for 2012-13 is Mike Hastings of Minnesota State University. In his first year as head coach of the Mavericks, Hastings has guided MSU to its first top-half league finish since 2007-08 with a 16-11-1 mark (22-11-3 overall), with his club in contention for the regular season title heading into the final weekend. The Mavericks, who achieved an all-time program best national ranking of No. 7 in the country on Feb. 25, had a seven-game unbeaten streak from Nov. 23-Dec. 14 and during the course of the season the Mavericks have claimed wins over No. 2-ranked Minnesota, No. 4 North Dakota and No. 15 Wisconsin. Minnesota State is positioned to make its second-ever NCAA postseason tournament appearance and under Hastings’ guidance, the Mavericks claimed an all-time program-best 16 wins in WCHA games. Since Nov. 23rd MSU has gone 19-6-1.
Five conference-member teams – Minnesota, Minnesota State, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota and St. Cloud State – are represented on the All-WCHA First Team for 2012-13, with the Huskies landing two players. Named to the All-WCHA First Team, with statistics for league games only, are: F - Ryan Walters, Jr., Nebraska Omaha (28 gp, 16-24=40); F - Drew LeBlanc, Sr., St. Cloud State (28 gp, 10-25=35); F - Danny Kristo, Sr., North Dakota (28 gp, 17-20=37); D - Nate Schmidt, Jr., Minnesota (28 gp, 7-19=26); D - Nick Jensen, Jr., St. Cloud State (28 gp, 4-19=23); G - Stephon Williams, Fr., Minnesota State (15-9-1, 1.93 GAA, .927 Sv%). LeBlanc was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 30 and Feb. 5, Kristo was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 20 and Feb. 27, and Williams was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
Members of the All-WCHA Second Team for 2012-13 are: F - Corban Knight, Sr., North Dakota (28 gp, 12-23=35); F - Erik Haula, Jr., Minnesota (26 gp, 13-24=37); F - Rylan Schwartz, Sr., Colorado College (27 gp, 12-23=35); D - Joey LaLeggia, So., Denver (28 gp, 10-13=23); D - Mike Boivin, Sr., Colorado College (28 gp, 13-10=23); G - Juho Olkinuora, So., Denver (9-3-5, 2.44 GAA, .924 Sv%). Knight was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on both Dec. 8 and Jan. 8, Schwartz earned the same honor on both Nov. 13 and Feb. 27, LaLeggia was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 20, Boivin was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 16, and Olkinuora was WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 8 and Feb. 5.
Voted to the All-WCHA Third Team for 2012-13 are: F - Matt Leitner, So., Minnesota State (28 gp, 13-19=32); F - Nick Bjugstad, Jr., Minnesota (28 gp, 15-8=23); F - Eriah Hayes, Sr., Minnesota State (28 gp, 15-13=28); D - Andrej Sustr, Jr., Nebraska Omaha (28 gp, 7-11=18); D - Jake McCabe, So., Wisconsin (24 gp, 3-12=15); G - Adam Wilcox, Fr., Minnesota (16-6-5, 2.13 GAA, .914 Sv%). Leitner was the WCHA Offensive Player of the week on Nov. 27, Bjugstad earned the honor on both Oct. 16 and Jan. 3, Hayes was the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 12, and Wilcox was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on March 5 and the league’s rookie of the week on Nov. 13 and Jan. 3.
Members of the All-WCHA Rookie Team for 2012-13 as selected by the voters are: F - Tony Cameranesi, Fr., Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 11-17=28); F - Alex Petan, Fr., Michigan Tech (28 gp, 11-18=29); F - Rocco Grimaldi, So., North Dakota (28 gp, 10-16=26); D - Nolan Zajac, Fr., Denver (26 gp, 4-10=14); D - Andy Welinski, Fr., Minnesota Duluth (28 gp, 3-12=15); G - Stephon Williams, Fr., Minnesota State (15-9-1, 1.93 GAA, .927 Sv%. Petan was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on March 5, Grimaldi was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Dec. 11, and Williams was the WCHA Rookie of the Week on both Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
Repeat members of all-league teams from 2011-12 were: Nick Bjugstad, F, Minnesota (All-WCHA First Team), Joey LaLeggia, D, Denver (All-WCHA Second Team, All-WCHA Rookie Team), Nate Schmidt, D, Minnesota (All-WCHA Second Team), Nick Jensen, D, St. Cloud State (All-WCHA Third Team), and Juho Olkinuora, G, Denver (All-WCHA Rookie Team).
Four players who were named as major award winners and/or to this season’s all-league teams were previously honored on Feb. 13 as WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2012-13. They were: Ryan Walters, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scoring Champion); Andrej Sustr, Jr., D, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA Third Team), Drew LeBlanc, Sr., F, St. Cloud State (WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); and Nick Jensen, Jr., D, St. Cloud State (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team). To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution.
Major award winners and members of the various all-league teams who were also recognized today as members of the 2012-13 All-WCHA Men’s Academic Team were: Rylan Schwartz, Sr. F, Colorado College (All-WCHA Second Team); Juho Olkinuora, So., G, Denver (All-WCHA Second Team); Nick Bjugstad, Jr., F, Minnesota (All-WCHA Third Team); Erik Haula, Jr., F, Minnesota (All-WCHA Second Team); Nate Schmidt, Jr., D, Minnesota (All-WCHA First Team); Eriah Hayes, Sr., F, Minnesota State (All-WCHA Third Team); Andrej Sustr, Jr., D, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA Third Team); Ryan Walters, Jr., F, Nebraska Omaha (All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scoring Champion); Rocco Grimaldi, Fr., F, North Dakota (All-WCHA Rookie Team); Nick Jensen, Jr., D, St. Cloud State (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); Drew LeBlanc, Sr., F, St. Cloud State (WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, All-WCHA First Team); and Jake McCabe, So., D, Wisconsin (All-WCHA Third Team).
Voting for the WCHA awards is done by conference member team coaches, players, sports information directors and local media. Each team receives eight ballots for a total of 96 voters. Points for awards and all-league teams are awarded on a 5-point (for a 1st team vote), 3-point (for a 2nd team vote), and 1-point (for a 3rd team vote) basis. The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year award is selected by member team Faculty Athletic Representatives while the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is selected by the league’s 12 head coaches.
2012-13 WCHA Men’s Major Award Winners
WCHA Player of the Year
Drew LeBlanc • Senior, Forward, St. Cloud State University (Hermantown, MN)
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
Drew LeBlanc • Senior, Forward, St. Cloud State University (Hermantown, MN)
WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Jensen • Junior, Defenseman, St. Cloud State University (Rogers, MN)
WCHA Rookie of the Year
Stephon Williams • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Fairbanks, AK)
WCHA Scoring Champion
Ryan Walters • Junior, Forward, University of Nebraska Omaha (Rosemount, MN)
WCHA Goaltending Champion
Stephon Williams • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Fairbanks, AK)
WCHA Coach of the Year
Mike Hastings • Minnesota State University
2012-13 All-WCHA First Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Ryan Walters Nebraska Omaha 6-0 188 Jr Rosemount, MN 28 gp, 16-24=40
F Drew LeBlanc St. Cloud State 6-0 195 Sr Hermantown, MN 28 gp, 10-25=35
F Danny Kristo North Dakota 5-11 185 Sr Eden Prairie, MN 28 gp, 17-20=37
D Nate Schmidt Minnesota 6-0 195 Jr St. Cloud, MN 28 gp, 7-19=26
D Nick Jensen St. Cloud State 6-1 193 Jr Rogers, MN 28 gp, 4-19=23
G Stephon Williams Minnesota State 6-2 190 Fr Fairbanks, AK 15-9-1, 1.93, .927
2012-13 All-WCHA Second Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Corban Knight North Dakota 6-2 200 Sr High River, AB 28 gp, 12-23=35
F Erik Haula Minnesota 5-11 190 Jr Pori, Finland 26 gp, 13-24=37
F Rylan Schwartz Colorado College 5-10 196 Sr Wilcox, SK 27 gp, 12-23=35
D Joey LaLeggia Denver 5-9 180 So Burnaby, BC 28 gp, 10-13=23
D Mike Boivin Colorado College 6-1 190 Sr Delta, BC 28 gp, 13-10=23
G Juho Olkinuora Denver 6-2 200 So Helsinki, Finland 9-3-5, 2.44, .924
2012-13 All-WCHA Third Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Matt Leitner Minnesota State 5-9 170 So Los Alamitos, CA 28 gp, 13-19=32
F Nick Bjugstad Minnesota 6-6 220 Jr Blaine, MN 28 gp, 15-8=23
F Eriah Hayes Minnesota State 6-4 210 Sr La Crescent, MN 28 gp, 15-13=28
D Andrej Sustr Nebraska Omaha 6-8 225 Jr Plzen, Czech Republic 28 gp, 7-11=18
D Jake McCabe Wisconsin 6-1 205 So Eau Claire, WI 24 gp, 3-12=15
G Adam Wilcox Minnesota 6-0 186 Fr South St. Paul, MN 16-6-5, 2.13, .914
2012-13 All-WCHA Rookie Team
Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2012-13 WCHA Stats
F Tony Cameranesi Minnesota Duluth 5-10 180 Fr Maple Grove, MN 28 gp, 11-17=28
F Alex Petan Michigan Tech 5-8 155 Fr Delta, BC 28 gp, 11-18=29
F Rocco Grimaldi North Dakota 5-6 170 Fr Rossmoor, CA 28 gp, 10-16=26
D Nolan Zajac Denver 5-11 180 Fr Winnipeg, MB 26 gp, 4-10=14
D Andy Welinski Minnesota Duluth 6-1 200 Fr Duluth, MN 28 gp, 3-12=15
G Stephon Williams Minnesota State 6-2 190 Fr Fairbanks, AK 15-9-1, 1.93, .927
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