The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) announced that Jackson Jutting and Connor Milburn have been named CCHA Co-Best Defensive Forwards.
Notable Links:
CCHA Co-Best Defensive Forward: Jackson Jutting, Sr., Bemidji State (Savage, Minn.)
Jutting helped Bemidji State to its second-ever MacNaughton Cup title and first since 2017, posting a +6 plus-minus across 16 CCHA contests. Despite playing three-quarters of the Beavers' conference games, he led them in face-off wins (150) and winning percentage (50.3%), while collecting eight goals and six assists for 14 points. He led BSU in game-winning goals (3) and shooting percentage (22.2%) and blocked eight shots at the defensive end of the ice.
Overall, Jutting has played in 25 games for the Beavers, scoring 10 goals with 11 assists for 21 points. Two of his tallies have come on the power play and three have been game-winners. He has won 51.7% of his face-offs (240-of-464), helping Bemidji State reach the Mason Cup Semifinals.
CCHA Co-Best Defensive Forward: Connor Milburn, So., Lake Superior State (Kamloops, B.C.)
Milburn led the Lakers in assists (15), points (24) and face-off wins (210) during CCHA play this season, winning 47.6% of his draws and blocking 13 shots at the defensive end. Adding nine goals, including two game-winners, he was third in plus-minus (+6) and shots (57). The league leader in points, he was second in assists and multi-point games (7) and fourth in face-off wins.
For the season, Milburn has played in 33 games, recording 35 points on 16 goals and 19 assists. Posting a plus-minus of +15, he has two power play goals, one shorthanded marker and two game-winners. The Lakers claimed a Game 3 victory on Sunday, earning a trip to the Mason Cup Semifinals.
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 Best Defensive Defenseman (12pm ET) and the Rookie of the Year (2pm ET).
The 2024 Mason Cup Playoffs resume 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