The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced the Finalists for Coach of the Year and three of the conference’s bench leaders have been recognized. Tom Serratore (Bemidji State), Joe Shawhan (Michigan Tech) and Luke Strand (Minnesota State) were voted on by their peers are in the running for the league’s Coach of the Year, which will be announced on Wednesday.
Notable Links:
CCHA Coach of the Year Finalist: Tom Serratore, Bemidji State
In his 23rd year at the helm, Serratore led the Beavers to their second-ever MacNaughton Cup Championship and first since 2017 this year, clearing the field by nine points when it was all said and done. He notched his eighth 20-win season (20-16-2), which included an 11-game unbeaten streak (10-0-1) and place in the Mason Cup Championship game. Bemidji State boasted a school-record four CCHA First Team selections, the Defenseman of the Year, Best Defensive Defenseman and Goaltender of the Year.
CCHA Coach of the Year Finalist: Joe Shawhan, Michigan Tech
Shawhan’s Huskies claimed the program’s first-ever Mason Cup Championship on Friday, topping Bemidji State in the title game, 2-1. Michigan Tech is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year and sixth time since Shawhan joined the staff as an assistant in 2014. The Huskies are 19-14-6 overall, posting a 12-10-2 mark in CCHA play, which was good for a third-place finish. They claimed their second consecutive Rookie of the Year honor and saw two earn All-CCHA selections.
CCHA Coach of the Year Finalist: Luke Strand, Minnesota State
In his first season on the bench for the Mavericks, Strand posted an 18-15-4 overall record, going 12-10-2 in CCHA play for a fourth-place finish, before advancing to the Mason Cup Semifinals. Minnesota State had the top overall goal-differential in the conference at +15 and finished top-four in power play (20.0%), penalty kill (81.7%) and penalty minutes per game (8.3). The Mavericks had the conference Forward and Player of the Year, a Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist and two All-CCHA selections.
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 or themselves.
The league's year-end award announcements conclude with the Coach of the Year on Wednesday (11am ET).
For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065