The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced the Finalists for Best Defensive Forward, Best Defensive Defensemen and Rookie of the Year and 10 student-athletes from seven different programs have been recognized. The winners of all year-end honors will be announced during Awards Week (Mar. 11-15).
Notable Links:
CCHA Best Defensive Forward Finalist: Arvid Caderoth, Sr., Michigan Tech (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Caderoth was Michigan Tech's top face-off man during CCHA play in 2023-24, winning 56.2% of his draws, which was good fifth in the league. Offensively, he added six goals and five assists for 11 points, including three-power play goals and two game-winners. The Huskies captain blocked 14 shots defensively and took only six minor penalties for 12 minutes.
CCHA Best Defensive Forward Finalist: 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.
CCHA Best Defensive Forward Finalist: Luke Manning, 5th, St. Thomas (Stillwater, Minn.)
The Tommies face-off wins leader (225) during conference play, Manning ranked ninth in the league with a 54.2% winning percentage on the draw. Playing all 24 CCHA contests, he helped St. Thomas to a second-place finish, scoring five goals and assisting on four more for nine points. With a plus-minus of +3, he recorded three power-play points (1 goal, 2 assists) and blocked 13 shots at the defensive end of the ice.
CCHA Best Defensive Forward Finalist: 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.
CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman Finalist: Aiden Gallacher, Sr., Northern Michigan (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Gallacher was second among all CCHA skaters with 50 blocked shots and third in blocked shots per game (2.08) during conference play this season. The captain for the Wildcats, he played in all 24 league contests, posting an even plus-minus, with one goal and five assists for six points. His lone tally stood as the game-winning goal against rival Michigan Tech on December 9. He added 23 shots on goal and made CCHA Scholar-Athlete Team honors.
CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman Finalist: 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.
CCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist: 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 and tallied one game-winning goal.
CCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist: 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.
CCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist: 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 Rookie of the Year Finalist: 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.
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.
Year-end award announcements continue on Monday with the CCHA All-Rookie Team (10am ET), All-CCHA Second Team (12pm ET) and All-CCHA First Team (2pm ET).
The 2024 Mason Cup Playoffs get underway this weekend and all four series 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