The Western Collegiate Hockey Association gives awards at the conclusion of each season. The current awards include Player of the Year, Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year, as well as the league leaders in points scoring and goaltending. In addition, several WCHA players have won the Hobey Baker Award for the nation's best college hockey player.
Past winners have included numerous National Hockey League players, players in European professional leagues, NHL All-Stars , Olympic gold medalists , Stanley Cup champions , and Hockey Hall of Famers . Minnesota and North Dakota are the most successful teams, with 55 award winners and statistical leaders each. All current and former members of the conference are represented, with the exception of Bowling Green .
No player has been selected for the same award more than twice. Murray McLachlan of Minnesota was named Rookie of the Year and twice named Player of the Year, the only player to be selected for three awards. Minnesota's John Mayasich and Michigan Tech's Tony Esposito are the only players to lead the conference statistically in three seasons. John MacInnes of Michigan Tech was named Coach of the Year five times.
The Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year is chosen by a vote of faculty athletic representatives, while the Defensive Player of the Year is chosen by the league's head coaches. All other award winners are selected by votes from coaches, players, sports information directors , and local media.[ 1]
All extant awards were discontinued in 2021 when the men's division of the WCHA was dissolved.
Jordan Leopold, 2002 Hobey Baker winner Matt Carle, 2006 Hobey Baker winner The Hobey Baker Award has been awarded annually since 1981 to the most outstanding player in NCAA ice hockey.[ 2]
School Winners Years Minnesota–Duluth 5 1984, 1985, 1994, 2004, 2012 Minnesota 4 1981, 1988, 1996, 2002 North Dakota 2 1987, 2007 Colorado College 2 2003, 2005 Denver 1 2006 Wisconsin 1 2010 St. Cloud State 1 2013
Keith Magnuson, 1967–68 Most Valuable Player Curtis Joseph, 1988–89 Most Valuable Player Junior Lessard, 2003–04 Player of the Year and Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan, 2006–07 Player of the Year and Hobey Baker winner Jamie McBain, 2008–09 Player of the Year The Player of the Year award has been awarded since the 1960–61 season. Before 1992, it was known as the Most Valuable Player award.[ 4]
School Winners Years Minnesota 10 1963, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1997 North Dakota 8 1965, 1982, 1987, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2011 Minnesota–Duluth 8 1967, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2012 Wisconsin 7 1978, 1979, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2000, 2009 Denver 6 1961, 1968, 1973, 1986, 2006, 2010 Colorado College 5 1972, 1974, 2003, 2005, 2008 Michigan Tech 4 1971, 1976, 2015, 2016 Minnesota State 3 2018, 2020, 2021 Michigan 2 1962, 1966 Northern Michigan 2 1991, 2019 St. Cloud State 2 2002, 2013 Michigan State 1 1975 Notre Dame 1 1977 Alaska 1 2014 Bemidji State 1 2017
Offensive Player of the Year [ edit ] The Offensive Player of the Year was first awarded in 2019.
School Winners Years Minnesota State 2 2020, 2021
Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year [ edit ] Tony Granato, 1986–87 Student-Athlete of the Year Mark Cullen, 2001–02 Student-Athlete of the Year Lee Sweatt, 2006–07 Student-Athlete of the Year Season[ 5] Player Position School 1986–87 Tony Granato Forward Wisconsin 1987–88 Steve Johnson Forward North Dakota 1988–89 Tim Budy Forward Colorado College 1989–90 Dave Shields Forward Denver 1990–91 Brad Werenka Defenseman Northern Michigan 1991–92 Geoff Sarjeant Goaltender Michigan Tech 1992–93 Brett Hauer Defenseman Minnesota–Duluth 1993–94 Brian Konowalchuk Forward Denver Jeff Nielsen Forward Minnesota 1994–95 Justin McHugh Forward Minnesota 1995–96 Dan Trebil Defenseman Minnesota 1996–97 Petri Gunther Defenseman Denver 1997–98 Mitch Vig Defenseman North Dakota 1998–99 Kyle McLaughlin Defenseman St. Cloud State Scott Swanson Defenseman Colorado College 1999–2000 Jeff Scissons Forward Minnesota–Duluth 2000–01 Karl Goehring Goaltender North Dakota 2001–02 Mark Cullen Forward Colorado College 2002–03 Tom Preissing Defenseman Colorado College 2003–04 Connor James Forward Denver 2004–05 Steven Johns Defenseman Minnesota State 2005–06 Ted O'Leary Forward Denver 2006–07 Lee Sweatt Defenseman Colorado College 2007–08 Joel Hanson Defenseman Minnesota State 2008–09 J. P. Testwuide Defenseman Denver 2009–10 Eli Vlaisavljevich Defenseman Michigan Tech 2010–11 Chay Genoway Defenseman North Dakota 2011–12 Brad Eidsness Goaltender North Dakota 2012–13 Drew LeBlanc Forward St. Cloud State 2013–14 Chad Brears Forward Alabama–Huntsville 2014–15 Tanner Kero Forward Michigan Tech 2015–16 Jamie Phillips Goaltender Michigan Tech 2016–17 Chad McDonald Forward Ferris State 2017–18 Olivier Mantha Goaltender Alaska–Anchorage 2018–19 Max Coatta Forward Minnesota State 2019–20 Edwin Hookenson Defenseman Minnesota State 2020–21 Zach Driscoll Goaltender Bemidji State
School Winners Years Denver 6 1989–90, 1993–94† , 1996–97, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2008–09 North Dakota 5 1987–88, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2010–11, 2011–12 Colorado College 5 1988–89, 1998–99† , 2001–02, 2002–03, 2006–07 Michigan Tech 4 1991–92, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16 Minnesota State 4 2004–05, 2007–08, 2018–19, 2019–20 Minnesota 3 1993–94† , 1994–95, 1995–96 Minnesota–Duluth 2 1992–93, 1999–2000 St. Cloud State 2 1998–99† , 2012–13 Wisconsin 1 1986–87 Northern Michigan 1 1990–91 Alabama–Huntsville 1 2013–14 Bemidji State 1 2020–21
Defensive Player of the Year [ edit ] Brian Rafalski, 1994–95 Defensive player of the Year Andy Sutton, 1997–98 co-Defensive Player of the Year Jack Hillen, 2007–08 Defensive Player of the Year School Winners Years Colorado College 7 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2002–03† , 2004–05, 2007–08 Wisconsin 5 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 North Dakota 3 1997–98† , 1998–99, 2008–09 Minnesota 3 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07 Denver 3 2002–03† , 2003–04, 2005–06 Bowling Green 3 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21† Alaska 2 2013–14, 2014–15 Minnesota State 2 2015–16, 2016–17 Northern Michigan 2 1991–92, 2018–19 Michigan Tech 1 1997–98† St. Cloud State 1 2012–13 Bemidji State 1 2020–21†
Goaltender of the Year [ edit ] School Winners Years Minnesota State 2 2019–20, 2020–21 Northern Michigan 2 2017–18, 2018–19
Gordon Wilkie, 1961–62 Sophomore of the Year George Morrison, 1968–69 Sophomore of the Year Dany Heatley, 1999–2000 Rookie of the Year Brandon Bochenski, 2001–02 Rookie of the Year Thomas Vanek, 2002–03 Rookie of the Year Paul Stastny, 2004–05 Rookie of the Year Phil Kessel, 2005–06 Rookie of the Year School Winners Years Denver 10 1959–60† , 1960–61, 1966–67† , 1968–69, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1987–88, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2011–12 North Dakota 9 1966–67† , 1971–72, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2009–10 Minnesota 8 1965–66, 1967–68, 1979–80, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09 Colorado College 6 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2007–08 Michigan Tech 5 1959–60† , 1962–63, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1972–73 Wisconsin 5 1976–77, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1999–2000 Minnesota State 5 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21 Minnesota–Duluth 4 1969–70Fr. , 1983–84, 1984–85, 1996–97 Ferris State 2 2015–16, 2018–19 Michigan 2 1961–62, 1963–64 Michigan State 2 1969–70So. , 1980–81 Northern Michigan 2 1989–90, 1990–91 Notre Dame 1 1973–74 Alaska–Anchorage 1 1998–99 St. Cloud State 1 2006–07 Lake Superior State 1 2013–14 Bemidji State 1 2014–15
Jeff Sauer, 1971–72 & 1974–75 Coach of the Year Herb Brooks, 1973–74 Coach of the Year Mel Pearson, 2011–12 Coach of the Year School Winners Years North Dakota 10 1962–63, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2008–09 Michigan Tech 9 1959–60, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1987–88, 2005–06† , 2011–12, 2015–16 Denver 8 1960–61, 1967–68, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2004–05† , 2009–10 Minnesota State 7 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2018–19, 2020–21 Colorado College 6 1968–69, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1995–96 Minnesota 5 1969–70, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1989–90, 2005–06† Minnesota–Duluth 5 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1992–93, 2003–04 Northern Michigan 3 1988–89, 1990–91, 2017–18 St. Cloud State 3 1997–98, 2004–05† , 2006–07 Bemidji State 2 2016–17, 2019–20 Michigan 2 1963–64, 1980–81 Notre Dame 1 1972–73 Wisconsin 1 1976–77 Nebraska–Omaha 1 2010–11 Ferris State 1 2013–14
Statistical leaders [ edit ] Red Berenson, 1961–62 scoring leader Doug Palazzari, 1971–72 scoring leader Mark Johnson, 1977–78 scoring leader Ryan Stoa, 2008–09 scoring leader Rhett Rakhshani, 2009–10 scoring leader Matt Frattin, 2010–11 scoring leader The scoring champion was determined based on all games from 1951–52 until 1961–62. Since, only statistics from conference games are included.[ 1]
Season[ 5] Player Position School Games Goals Assists Points 1951–52 Ron Hartwell Forward Colorado College 23 40 27 67 1952–53 John Mayasich Forward Minnesota 27 42 36 78 1953–54 John Mayasich Forward Minnesota 28 29 49 78 1954–55 John Mayasich Forward Minnesota 30 41 39 80 1955–56 John Andrews Forward Colorado College 27 27 25 52 1956–57 Bill Reichart Forward North Dakota 22 24 16 40 1957–58 Bill Hay Forward Colorado College 16 16 32 48 1958–59 no league play 1959–60 Bill Masterton Forward Denver 17 17 27 44 1960–61 Jerry Walker Forward Denver 18 29 15 44 1961–62 Red Berenson Forward Michigan 18 24 17 41 1962–63 Lou Nanne Defenseman Minnesota 20 9 23 32 1963–64 Gordon Wilkie Forward Michigan 14 8 22 30 1964–65 Mel Wakabayashi Forward Michigan 18 13 17 30 1965–66 Doug Volmar Forward Michigan State 20 18 23 41 1966–67 Keith Christiansen Forward Minnesota–Duluth 23 15 31 46 1967–68 Bill Klatt Forward Minnesota 22 18 12 30 1968–69 George Morrison Forward Denver 20 26 13 39 1969–70 George Morrison Forward Denver 22 18 19 37 1970–71 Vic Venasky Forward Denver 22 14 25 39 1971–72 Doug Palazzari Forward Colorado College 28 27 30 57 1972–73 Eddie Bumbacco Forward Notre Dame 28 31 34 65 1973–74 Steve Colp Forward Michigan State 28 31 41 72 1974–75 Tom Ross Forward Michigan State 32 32 48 80 1975–76 Tom Ross Forward Michigan State 32 41 42 83 1976–77 Dave Debol Forward Michigan 32 34 37 71 1977–78† Mark Johnson Forward Wisconsin 31 39 31 70 1977–78† Mike Eaves Forward Wisconsin 32 25 45 70 1978–79 Dave Delich Forward Colorado College 30 25 45 70 1979–80 Tim Harrer Forward Minnesota 32 45 24 69 1980–81 Steve Ulseth Forward Minnesota 28 28 35 63 1981–82 Ed Beers Forward Denver 26 30 19 49 1982–83 Scott Bjugstad Forward Minnesota 26 21 35 56 1983–84 Bill Watson Forward Minnesota–Duluth 23 17 38 55 1984–85 Bill Watson Forward Minnesota–Duluth 33 37 43 80 1985–86 Dallas Gaume Forward Denver 34 24 49 73 1986–87 Tony Hrkac Forward North Dakota 35 36 50 86 1987–88 Steve Johnson Forward North Dakota 35 27 44 71 1988–89 Shawn Harrison Forward Michigan Tech 35 16 30 46 1989–90 Dave Shields Forward Denver 28 21 29 50 1990–91 Scott Beattie Forward Northern Michigan 31 33 31 64 1991–92 Jim Hiller Forward Northern Michigan 32 24 46 70 1992–93 Derek Plante Forward Minnesota–Duluth 29 29 37 66 1993–94 Chris Marinucci Forward Minnesota–Duluth 32 27 26 53 1994–95 Brian Bonin Forward Minnesota 32 27 19 46 1995–96 Brian Bonin Forward Minnesota 32 25 39 64 1996–97† Brian Swanson Forward Colorado College 32 15 27 42 1996–97† Mike Crowley Defenseman Minnesota 32 5 37 42 1997–98† Reggie Berg Forward Minnesota 28 17 17 34 1997–98† Brian Swanson Forward Colorado College 28 11 23 34 1998–99 Jason Blake Forward North Dakota 28 20 29 49 1999–2000 Jeff Panzer Forward North Dakota 28 14 30 44 2000–01 Jeff Panzer Forward North Dakota 28 16 33 49 2001–02 Mark Hartigan Forward St. Cloud State 28 24 25 49 2002–03 Peter Sejna Forward Colorado College 28 21 32 53 2003–04† Junior Lessard Forward Minnesota–Duluth 28 19 20 39 2003–04† Brandon Bochenski Forward North Dakota 28 16 23 39 2004–05 Marty Sertich Forward Colorado College 28 17 25 42 2005–06 Paul Stastny Forward Denver 28 15 29 44 2006–07 Ryan Duncan Forward North Dakota 28 22 17 39 2007–08 Ryan Lasch Forward St. Cloud State 28 17 17 34 2008–09 Ryan Stoa Forward Minnesota 27 19 17 36 2009–10 Rhett Rakhshani Forward Denver 28 15 20 35 2010–11 Matt Frattin Forward North Dakota 28 22 18 40 2011–12 Jack Connolly Forward Minnesota–Duluth 28 16 27 43 2012–13 Ryan Walters Forward Nebraska–Omaha 28 16 24 40 2013–14 Cody Kunyk Forward Alaska 28 17 17 34 2014–15 Tanner Kero Forward Michigan Tech 28 13 21 34 2015–16 Alex Petan Forward Michigan Tech 27 16 13 29 2016–17 Gerald Mayhew Forward Ferris State 26 15 15 30 2017–18 C. J. Suess Forward Minnesota State 28 19 17 36 2018–19 Troy Loggins Forward Northern Michigan 28 20 12 32 2019–20 Griffin Loughran Forward Northern Michigan 28 20 12 32 2020–21 André Ghantous Forward Northern Michigan 14 6 14 20
School Leaders Years Minnesota 13 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97† , 1997–98† , 2008–09 Denver 10 1959–60, 1960–61, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06, 2009–10 Colorado College 9 1951–52, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1971–72, 1978–79, 1996–97† , 1997–98† , 2002–03, 2004–05 North Dakota 9 1956–57, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04† , 2006–07, 2010–11 Minnesota–Duluth 7 1966–67, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2003–04† , 2011–12 Northern Michigan 5 1990–91, 1991–92, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 Michigan 4 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1976–77 Michigan State 4 1965–66, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 Michigan Tech 3 1988–89, 2014–15, 2015–16 Wisconsin 2 1977–78† , 1977–78† St. Cloud State 2 2001–02, 2007–08 Notre Dame 1 1972–73 Nebraska–Omaha 1 2012–13 Alaska 1 2013–14 Ferris State 1 2016–17 Minnesota State 1 2017–18
Goaltending leaders [ edit ] Willard Ikola, 1951–52 top goaltender Tony Esposito, top goaltender in 1964–65, 1965–66, & 1966–67 Ed Belfour, 1986–87 top goaltender Wade Dubielewicz, top goaltender in 2000–01 and 2001–02 Curtis McElhinney, top goaltender in 2002–03 and 2004–05 Bernd Brückler, top goaltender in 2003–04 Brian Elliott, top goaltender in 2005–06 and 2006–07 The goaltending champion was based on all games from 1951–52 until 1955–56 and based on only league games since.[ 1]
Season[ 5] Player School Games GAA 1951–52 Willard Ikola Michigan 26 2.66 1952–53 Jim Mattson Minnesota 27 2.36 1953–54 Jim Mattson Minnesota 26 2.76 1954–55 Jeff Simus Colorado College 24 2.92 1955–56 Lorne Howes Michigan 22 1.95 1956–57 Ross Childs Michigan 11 2.73 1957–58 Bob Peabody North Dakota 15 3.13 1958–59 no league play 1959–60 George Kirkwood Denver 22 2.32 1960–61 George Kirkwood Denver 18 1.72 1961–62† Dave Butts Michigan 9 2.67 1961–62† Bob Gray Michigan 9 2.67 1962–63 Garry Bauman Michigan Tech 20 2.65 1963–64 Buddy Blom Denver 10 1.70 1964–65 Tony Esposito Michigan Tech 10 2.00 1965–66 Tony Esposito Michigan Tech 12 2.00 1966–67 Tony Esposito Michigan Tech 11 2.45 1967–68 Gerry Powers Denver 18 1.78 1968–69 Rick Duffett Michigan State 10 2.40 1969–70 Wayne Thomas Wisconsin 13 3.00 1970–71 Morris Trewin Michigan Tech 11 2.55 1971–72 Jim Makey Wisconsin 21.3 3.29 1972–73 Ron Grahame Denver 27 2.93 1973–74 Brad Shelstad Minnesota 25 3.32 1974–75 Larry Thayer Minnesota 16 2.50 1975–76 Jeff Tscherne Minnesota 23.7 3.50 1976–77 Julian Baretta Wisconsin 17 3.02 1977–78 Ernie Glanville Denver 14 2.57 1978–79 Bob Iwabuchi North Dakota 16 3.13 1979–80 Bob Iwabuchi North Dakota 15 3.85 1980–81 Frank Krieber Michigan Tech 16 3.27 1981–82 Jon Casey North Dakota 12 2.38 1982–83 Jon Casey North Dakota 12 2.63 1983–84 Rick Kosti Minnesota–Duluth 22 2.92 1984–85 John Blue Minnesota 22 3.00 1985–86 John Blue Minnesota 21 3.08 1986–87 Ed Belfour North Dakota 22 2.37 1987–88 Robb Stauber Minnesota 35 2.91 1988–89 Robb Stauber Minnesota 25 2.33 1989–90 Duane Derksen Wisconsin 26 3.72 1990–91 Jeff Stolp Minnesota 24 2.71 1991–92 Jeff Stolp Minnesota 28 2.87 1992–93 Jim Carey Wisconsin 21 2.97 1993–94 Jim Carey Wisconsin 29 3.09 1994–95 Jeff Callinan Minnesota 30 2.74 1995–96 Judd Lambert Colorado College 14 2.05 1996–97 Aaron Schweitzer North Dakota 15 2.45 1997–98 Karl Goehring North Dakota 20 2.23 1998–99 Gregg Naumenko Alaska–Anchorage 25 2.23 1999–2000 Karl Goehring North Dakota 20 1.79 2000–01 Wade Dubielewicz Denver 22 2.24 2001–02 Wade Dubielewicz Denver 15 1.80 2002–03 Curtis McElhinney Colorado College 25 2.19 2003–04 Bernd Brückler Wisconsin 27 2.11 2004–05 Curtis McElhinney Colorado College 15 2.09 2005–06 Brian Elliott Wisconsin 21 1.84 2006–07 Brian Elliott Wisconsin 25 1.94 2007–08 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux North Dakota 28 1.74 2008–09 Alex Stalock Minnesota–Duluth 28 2.39 2009–10 Marc Cheverie Denver 25 2.05 2010–11 Aaron Dell North Dakota 24 1.97 2011–12 Kent Patterson Minnesota 28 2.06 2012–13 Stephon Williams Minnesota State 28 1.83 2013–14 Cole Huggins Minnesota State 24 1.73 2014–15 Stephon Williams (2) Minnesota State 28 1.66 2015–16 Cole Huggins (2) Minnesota State 14 1.46 2016–17 Michael Bitzer Bemidji State 27 1.40
School Leaders Years Minnesota 13 1952–53, 1953–54, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1994–95, 2011–12 North Dakota 11 1957–58, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2010–11 Denver 9 1959–60, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1977–78, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10 Wisconsin 9 1969–70, 1971–72, 1976–77, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07 Michigan Tech 6 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1970–71, 1980–81 Michigan 5 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1961–62† , 1961–62† Colorado College 4 1954–55, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2004–05 Minnesota State 4 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 Minnesota–Duluth 2 1983–84, 2008–09 Michigan State 1 1968–69 Alaska–Anchorage 1 1998–99 Bemidji State 1 2016–17
^ a b c "UMD's Jack Connolly Named WCHA Player of the Year, UND's Brad Eidsness is WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year to Highlight 2011–12 Men's Individual Award Winners" (PDF) . Press release . Western Collegiate Hockey Association. March 8, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2013 .^ "Hobey Baker Award" . University of New Hampshire Library. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2013 .^ "Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winners" . Inside College Hockey. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2013 .^ "WCHA Awards" . College Hockey Historical Archives . Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2013 .^ a b c d e f g h "WCHA Major Award Winners – 1951–2014" . Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015 .
Teams in the final season Venues in the final season Other previous teams Championships and awards Seasons
.jpg)
