The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) today announced the 2023-24 CCHA All-Rookie Team and six student-athletes from six different programs have been recognized. Luigi Benincasa (Ferris State), Isaac Gordon (Michigan Tech) and John Herrington (Lake Superior State) were named All-Rookie forwards, while Evan Murr (Minnesota State) and Eric Pohlkamp (Bemidji State) made up the team’s blue line and Cole Moore (Bowling Green) was selected as the goaltender.
Notable Links:
CCHA All-Rookie Team Forward: Luigi Benincasa, Ferris State (Edmonton, Alb.)
Benincasa led Ferris State in assists (12), points (17) and plus-mins (+6), with five goals, 48 shots and 10 blocks at the defensive end of the ice. He was fifth among all CCHA skaters and first among rookies in multi-point games (5), including a one-goal, two-assist outing against Bemidji State, which the Bulldogs won, 5-3. His 164 face-off wins were good for third-most on Ferris State and he was the league’s Rookie of the Month for January, recording two goals and four assists for six points.
CCHA All-Rookie Team Forward: Isaac Gordon, Michigan Tech (Landmark, Man.)
Gordon was second among all CCHA skaters in goals (11) during conference play, pacing league rookies in points (20) and plus-minus (+10) and finishing second in shots (66). Fifth overall in plus-minus, he was third on Michigan Tech with nine assists, including two helpers on the power play. Notching three multi-point games, he had two five-game point streaks during the conference season, tallied one game-winning goal and earned CCHA Rookie of the Month in November.
CCHA All-Rookie Team Forward: John Herrington, Lake Superior State (Hudson’s Hope, B.C.)
Herrington notched seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 23 CCHA contests this season, posting an even plus-minus, with 56 shots on goal, and seven blocks at the defensive end. The Lakers’ power play points leader with eight (2 goals, 6 assists), he also recorded a shorthanded goal and won 55.1% of his face-offs (65-of-118). Over his season-long, six-game point streak in December and January, he totaled two goals and five assists for seven points and has twice been named CCHA Rookie of the Week.
CCHA All-Rookie Team Defenseman: Evan Murr, Minnesota State (Stillwater, Minn.)
Murr led all CCHA defensemen with 18 points during conference play this season, finishing fifth among all skaters with 13 assists and five multi-point games. Adding five goals, including one game-winner, he totaled eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) while the Mavericks were on the power play and blocked 16 shots at the defensive end. His 50 shots on goal were good for fifth on Minnesota State and he ended conference play with an even plus-minus. He began his CCHA career with points in four consecutive league games.
CCHA All-Rookie Team Defenseman: Eric Pohlkamp, Bemidji State (Brainerd, Minn.)
Pohlkamp led all CCHA blueliners with six goals and 68 shots during conference play and was third with 16 points. Two of his tallies were game-winners and he recorded five points (3 goals, 2 assists) on the man-advantage. Playing in 20 of a possible 24 league contests, he recorded at least one point in every conference series that he appeared in, finishing with a plus-minus of +8. He helped the Beavers lift their second MacNaughton Cup as regular season champions and first since 2017.
CCHA All-Rookie Team Goaltender: Cole Moore, Bowling Green (Toronto, Ont.)
Moore went 9-8-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage in 19 CCHA games this season, ranking second in save percentage and fifth in goals-against average. Second in total saves (531) and fourth in minutes (1019:39), his one shutout in conference play was good for fifth. The 43 saves he made at Bemidji State on December 14 was the second-most by a league netminder this season.
2023-24 CCHA All-Rookie Team
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Pos.
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Name
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School
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F
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Luigi Benincasa
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Ferris State
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F
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John Herrington
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Lake Superior State
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F
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Isaac Gordon
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Michigan Tech
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D
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Evan Murr
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Minnesota State
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D
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Eric Pohlkamp
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Bemidji State
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G
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Cole Moore
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Bowling Green
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Voting for the 2023-24 All-CCHA Teams and year-end awards was conducted by the eight head coaches at each CCHA member institution, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
The league's year-end award announcements continue later today, with the All-CCHA Second Team (12pm ET) and All-CCHA First Team (2pm ET).
The 2024 Mason Cup Playoffs continue this Saturday, with fourth-seeded Minnesota State traveling to third-seeded Michigan Tech (5:07pm ET) and top-seeded Bemidji State hosting seventh-seeded Lake Superior State (7:07pm CT) in the conference Semifinals.
Both games can be seen on FloHockey.tv! For complete bracket, links and news, visit ccha.com/masoncup.
For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065