The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced the conference's 2025-26 Coach of the Year and Luke Strand (Minnesota State) have been voted as the winner for the second year in a row.
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Strand brought Minnesota State back to the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26, winning the MacNaughton Cup and Mason Cup after an 14-7-5 record in conference play. The Mavericks ranked second among CCHA teams in fewest goals allowed (53) and shots (816), while finishing third in save percentage (.920). MSU won its Mason Cup Playoff series with Ferris State in three games, before topping Michigan Tech, 7-2, in the semifinals and St. Thomas, 4-1, in the final.
The Mavericks are currently 22-10-7 and are ranked No. 14 in the final regular season USCHO.com poll. They have won four of the five Mason Cup Championships since the CCHA was reconstituted in 2021-22, including two in row. Minnesota State had the league's Defenseman of the Year in junior Evan Murr, who was also an All-CCHA First Team selection. Seniors Tristan Lemyre and Alex Tracy made the Second Team, while classmate Mason Wheeler was a finalist for Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
Earning the CCHA's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota State will face Western Michigan in the opening round of the Loveland Regional on Friday (1:30pm CT).
Voting for the 2025-26 All-CCHA Teams and year-end awards was conducted by the nine 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.
For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065