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†
North Dakota 5 1987–88, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2010–11, 2011–12
Colorado College 5 1988–89, 1998–99†
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†
Minnesota–Duluth 2 1992–93, 1999–2000
St. Cloud State 2 1998–99†
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†
Wisconsin 5 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
North Dakota 3 1997–98†
Minnesota 3 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07
Denver 3 2002–03†
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† †
North Dakota 9 1966–67†
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†
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†
Denver 8 1960–61, 1967–68, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2004–05†
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†
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]
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† †
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† †
North Dakota 9 1956–57, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04†
Minnesota–Duluth 7 1966–67, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2003–04†
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† †
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† †
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
1 2 3 "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 .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "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
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