Men's Ice Hockey

Six teams represented on CCHA All-Rookie Team

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) is proud to recognize seven student athletes represented on the All-Rookie Team for the 2021-22 CCHA season. The 2021-22 CCHA All-Rookie Team has six different schools represented, including two from Bowling Green and a two-way tie in the goaltender category.
 
Ferris State’s Bradley Marek led all CCHA rookie forwards on the ballot with 16 out of a maximum 21 points earned among the eight CCHA head coaches. Bowling Green’s Austen Swankler earned the second-most points (13), followed by Lake Superior State’s Josh Nixon (12).
 
Eric Parker (Bowling Green) garnered 12 points out of a maximum 14 to lead the CCHA rookie defensemen, while Minnesota State’s Bennett Zmolek earned nine points.

Between-the-pipes, both Charlie Glockner (Northern Michigan) and Mattias Sholl (Bemidji State) earned four votes each to tie, out of the maximum seven, from CCHA head coaches.
 
2021-22 CCHA All-Rookie Team:
F – Bradley Marek, Ferris State – 16 points
F – Austen Swankler, Bowling Green – (13)
F – Josh Nixon, Lake Superior State – (12)
D – Eric Parker, Bowling Green – (12)
D – Bennett Zmolek, Minnesota State – (9)
G – Mattias Sholl, Bemidji State – (4)
G – Charlie Glockner, Northern Michigan – (4)
 
Ferris State forward Bradley Marek finished tied for second amongst all CCHA freshmen with 13 points in conference play, third with five goals and second with eight assists. Marek also recorded the third most faceoff wins and third best faceoff percentage for a freshman in the nation. He is the only forward and only freshman in the top 20 in the CCHA in blocked shots (31).
 
Bowling Green forward Austen Swankler led all CCHA rookies with 18 points in conference play, including six goals and 12 assists. Swankler tallied one game-winning goal, was named CCHA Rookie of the Week three times and earned CCHA Rookie of the Month both in November and December. He registered a multi-point effort four times, including a multi-assist performance against Minnesota State. Swankler also blocked six shots for the Orange and Brown.
 
Lake Superior State forward Josh Nixon finished tied for second amongst all CCHA freshman with 13 points in 26 conference games played, led all CCHA rookies in scoring with seven goals and added six assists. Nixon played in all 26 CCHA games for the Lakers as a freshman, the only first-year Laker to do so. He recorded points in 10 of the 26 conference games played, including three multi-point games. Nixon ranks fifth on the Lakers in points in CCHA games this season and was named CCHA Rookie of the Month in October and CCHA Rookie of the Week twice on Dec. 6 and Jan. 31.
 
Bowling Green defenseman Eric Parker played all 26 conference games for Bowling Green and finished with one goal and six assists for seven points. He was a mainstay on the Falcons' power play unit, with three of his assists coming on the power play. He was also a member of the PK unit, helping the Orange and Brown limit their opponents to a 21% success rate on the power play. Parker blocked 16 shots, ranking fourth on the team. He also had a pair of multi-point efforts including a two-assist performance in BGSU's win over Lake Superior State.
 
Minnesota State defenseman Bennett Zmolek recorded seven points (2G, 5A) in 21 conference games played for Minnesota State. He tallied 15 shots on goal, a plus-15 rating and 17 blocked shots on the campaign.
 
Northern Michigan goaltender Charlie Glockner played in 14 games for the Wildcats. His record finished 6-3, with the best save percentage of .907 and goals-against average of 2.88 of rookie netminders and fifth best overall in those categories. He played 686 minutes, making 311 saves on the campaign. Glockner made a career-high amount of saves (44) against Michigan Tech on Feb. 1.
 
Bemidji State goaltender Mattias Sholl led the Beavers with a 9-10-0 record this season in 19 games played. Has posted the third-best goals against average (2.94) and save percentage (.896) among CCHA rookie netminders and seventh overall in those categories. Sholl played 1041:36 minutes in goal, recording 441 saves. Sholl was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week (Oct. 25), Rookie of the Week (Jan. 10) and Rookie of the Month (January).
 
Voting for the 2021-22 All-CCHA Teams and CCHA Players/Coach of the Year awards were conducted by the eight head coaches at each CCHA member institution based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches voted for six forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders, followed by three rookie forwards and two rookie defensemen, all in descending order, and one rookie goaltender. Lastly, the eight CCHA head coaches voted for one player or coach from each of the respective individual categories. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or self.
 
The CCHA will announce its 2021-22 All-CCHA First Team tomorrow, Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 11 a.m. (ET) / 10 a.m. (CT) and the 2021-22 All-CCHA Second Team at 2 p.m. (ET) / 1 p.m. (CT). CCHA Individual award winners will be announced this Wednesday, Mar. 16 and Thursday, Mar. 17.
 
Fans can join the conversation on social media by including the use of the hashtag #CCHAawards on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

To stay updated with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, visit www.ccha.com and follow the official social media accounts of the CCHA on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok & Twitter: @CCHAHockey.