Connolly, Patterson, Pearson highlight WCHA awards

Minnesota-Duluth forward Jack Connolly is the player of the year and North Dakota goalie Brad Eidsness has been named the outstanding student-athlete of the year in two of the major award winners announced Thursday by the WCHA.

The league’s five other major individual awards went to Wisconsin defenseman Justin Schultz (defensive player of the year), Denver defenseman Joey LaLeggia (rookie of the year), Connolly (scoring champion), Minnesota netminder Kent Patterson (goaltending champion) and Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson (coach of the year).

In addition, the conference named three All-WCHA teams and an All-Rookie team.

All-WCHA First Team

PlayerPositionClassSchool
Jack ConnollyFSr.Minnesota-Duluth
Nick BjugstadFSo. Minnesota
J.T. BrownFSo.Minnesota-Duluth
Justin SchultzDJr.Wisconsin
Joey LaLeggiaDFr.Denver
Kent PattersonGSr.Minnesota

All-WCHA Second Team

PlayerPositionClassSchool
Jaden SchwartzFSo.Colorado College
Drew ShoreFJr.Denver
Jason ZuckerFSo.Denver
Gabe GuentzelDSr.Colorado College
Nate SchmidtDSo.Minnesota
Kenny ReiterGSr.Minnesota-Duluth

All-WCHA Third Team

PlayerPositionClassSchool
Mark ZengerleFSo.Wisconsin
Brock NelsonFSo.North Dakota
Travis OleksukFSr.Minnesota-Duluth
Nick JensenDSo.St. Cloud State
Ben BloodDSr.North Dakota
Josh ThorimbertGSo.Colorado College

WCHA All-Rookie Team

Player PositionSchool
Kyle RauFMinnesota
Jean-Paul LafontaineFMinnesota State
Jayson MegnaFNebraska-Omaha
Joey LaLeggiaDDenver
Andrew ProchnoDSt. Cloud State
Juho OlkinuoraGDenver