The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) announced its year-end award for Best Defensive Defenseman and Bemidji State fifth-year blueliner Kyle Looft has been recognized. He is also a Finalist for Defenseman of the Year, which will be revealed tomorrow (10am ET).
Notable Links:
CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman: Kyle Looft, 5th, Bemidji State (Mankato, Minn.)
The Beavers’ captain, Looft led all CCHA skaters in plus-minus in league action at +16 and paced conference blueliners in assists (14) and points (18), despite playing in only 20 games. Scoring four goals, including one on the power play, he was fifth among all skaters and first among defensemen in multi-point games (5). He blocked 28 shots at the defensive end and earned CCHA Scholar-Athlete Team recognition.
Looft has recorded career-highs in goals (6), assists (22) and points (28) through 30 games this season, earning CCHA Defenseman of the Month honors in October and November. The four-time CCHA Defenseman of the Week has three power-play goals to his credit and 62 shots, with 51 blocks at the defensive end of the ice.
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 Rookie of the Year (2pm ET). Tomorrow will be the Defenseman of the Year (10am ET), Goaltender of the Year (12pm ET) and Forward of the Year (2pm ET), followed by the Player of the Year on Friday (11am 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