NCAA Conference Season Awards Flooded With NAHL Alumni
NCAA awards have been handed out across all conferences and many former NAHLers have earned recognition.
Throughout the 2025-2026 NCAA regular season, former NAHLers were consistently pegged as weekly and monthly conference award recipients; the recently announced post-season all-conference teams and individual awards were no different. Alumni representation was seen across all major six Division I conferences including: nine first-team selections, four all-rookie team selections, one Hobey Hat Trick finalist, and three players earning the highest honor at their position.
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA):
This season, former Shreveport Mudbug (2020-21), Chris Hedden, dominated on the ice from the blue line for the Air Force Academy Falcons all year long. The Kalamazoo, Michigan, native has earned five Atlantic Hockey’s Defenseman of the Week titles, with three of them in consecutive weeks. His offensive prowess also helped him be named Atlantic Hockey’s and Hockey Commissioners Association’s Defenseman of the Month in November. His consistency throughout the season led him to be named Atlantic Hockey’s Best Defenseman Award; he was also named a finalist for Player of the Year. The captain played in 37 games this season for the Falcons. Hedden led the team with 12 goals and 34 points on the year. His offensive skill set as a blueliner ranked him second in the nation for defensemen in goals (12) and points (34). In addition to being named to those titles, he was named to Atlantic Hockey’s First Team. This season, the former Mudbug became the only active Division I defenseman with more than 100 career points.
Joining him in making an impact this season, former Springfield Jr. Blue (2023-24), JJ Cataldo, spotlighted an impressive year between the pipes for the Army West Point Black Knights. Cataldo just wrapped up his sophomore season at West Point, and the Stuart, Florida, native secured Atlantic Hockey’s Goaltender of the Year title and was named as a Player of the Year finalist. Cataldo served as the Army’s primary goaltender and ranked seventh in the nation in saves made (917) and sits eighth overall with his .921 save percentage amongst goalies who have played 20 or more games this season. In addition, the former Jr. Blues lead the Atlantic in total saves made while ranking second for saves per game (28.66) in the 2025-26 season. In addition to being named the top goaltender, Cataldo was named to Atlantic Hockey’s First Team.
AHA Individual Honors
➜ Chris Hedden, Air Force: AHA Defenseman of the Year & Player of the Year Finalist
➜ JJ Cataldo, Army: AHA Goaltender of the Year & Player of the Year Finalist
➜ Jake Black, Bentley: AHA Forward of the Year Finalist
➜ Jakub Krbececk, RIT: AHA Goaltender of the Year Finalist
➜ Lukas Swedin, Bentley: AHA Rookie of the Year Finalist
➜ Mack Oliphant, Holy Cross: AHA Individual Sportsmanship Award
➜ Barrett Brooks, Mercyhurst: AHA Individual Sportsmanship Finalist
All-AHA First Team
➜ Chris Hedden, Air Force
➜ Jake Black, Bentley
➜ JJ Cataldo, Army
All-AHA Second Team
➜ Jack Ivey, Amry
➜ Mack Oliphant, Holy Cross
➜ Dominic Elliot, Robert Morris
➜ Jakub Krbececk, RIT
All-AHA Third Team
➜ Walter Zacher, Canisius
➜ Killian Klecker-Olson, Canisius
➜ Jack Dalton, Bentley
➜ Nolan Cunningham, Air Force
➜ Dominik Wasik, Air Force
All-AHA Rookie Team
➜ Lukas Swedin, Bentley
Big Ten Conference (B1G):
In his senior season with the Wisconsin Badgers, the former Austin Bruin (2020-21), Ben Dexheimer, was named to the All-Big 10 First Team thanks to his work from the blue line. The Minnesota native leads all blueliners on the Badgers with seven tallies and 27 points on the season. The captain has played a crucial offensive role for Wisconsin all season. The former Bruin ranks fourth in scoring and second overall while sitting second overall with 20 assists. The Badgers are currently in the hunt for the NCAA Championship as Wisconsin makes their way to the Frozen Four. In addition to being named to the First Team, he was recognized with the Big 10 Sportsmanship Award.
B1G Honors
➜ Ben Dexheimer, Wisconsin: All-Big Ten First Team & Big 10 Sportsmanship Award
➜ Daniel Russell, Michigan State: All-Big Ten Honorable Mentions
➜ Evan Werner, Notre Dame: Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA):
Earning his second consecutive CCHA Defenseman of the Year title, the former St. Cloud Norsemen (2020-21) Evan Murr continues to show up big for the Minnesota State Mavericks in his junior season. The Stillwater, Minnesota native led all CCHA blueliners with 20 points in conference play, tallying six goals while making 14 assists. Murr featured a conference-best +17 while tallying three game winners for Minnesota State. This season, he was twice named the Defenseman of the Month in the CCHA, including a pair of Defenseman of the Week honors. In addition, Murr was named to the All-CCHA First Team this year, something he accomplished during his time with the St. Cloud Norsemen in 2022. The ‘03 blueliner was also named as a finalist for the CCHA Player of the Year title.
Joining Murr in earning awards are former Kenai River Brown Bear (2020-21) Lucas Wahlin and El Paso Rhino (2020-21) Jack Anderson. Both skaters have signed NHL entry-level contracts this year. Wahlin signed with the Winnipeg Jets, while Anderson signed with the Dallas Stars. Wahlin is a true example of the ladder of development in the NAHL’s family of leagues. He started his junior career with the North Iowa Bulls (2019-20) in the NA3HL. He was named as the NA3HL’s Rookie of the Year thanks to his dominant work on the ice, earning him an opportunity the following season with the Brown Bears.
This year, Wahlin just wrapped his senior season with the St. Thomas Tommies, skating in 137 college games. The fourth-year forward has been a captain of the Tommies in his last three seasons. The 6-foot righty is the top goal scorer on his roster this season, tallying 21 goals while making 18 assists. His offensive skill set ranks him second on his roster, with 39 points on the year. This year, the Minnesota native was named the CCHA Defensive Forward of the Year and to the All-CCHA First Team. In Wahlin’s college career, the 24-year-old scored 56 goals while producing 75 assists with the Tommies.
Alongside Wahlin in the CCHA, Anderson just finished his senior season with the Michigan Tech Huskies. While skating with the Huskies, the alternate captain scored a career-best 24 points for his team in 39 games played. The 6-foot-6 defenseman tallied 11 goals while producing 13 assists this year. The St. Louis, Missouri, native ranks fourth among all NCAA defensemen with his 11 tallies. His defensive skill set on the ice led all Huskies skaters with 67 blocked shots. Anderson was named the CCHA Defensive Defenseman of the Year and to the All-CCHA First Team.
In addition to playing for the El Paso Rhinos, Anderson skated in the T1ER with the CarShield AAA program. He played four seasons with CarShield before making his next step to the League of Opportunity with the Rhinos.
CCHA Individual Honors
➜ Evan Murr, Minnesota State: CCHA Defenseman of the Year & Player of the Year Finalist
➜ Lucas Wahlin, St. Thomas: CCHA Defensive Forward of the Year
➜ Jack Anderson, Michigan Tech: CCHA Defensive Defenseman of the Year
All-CCHA First Team
➜ Lucas Wahlin, St. Thomas
➜ Jack Anderson, Michigan Tech
➜ Evan Murr, Minnesota State
All-CCHA Second Team
➜ Chase Cheslock, St. Thomas
➜ Alex Tracy, Minnesota State
CCHA All-Rookie Team
➜ Leo Bulgakov, Augustana
➜ Hayes Hundley, St. Thomas
Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC):
➜ Eric Charpentier, Darmouth: ECAC Best Defensive Defensman Finalist
➜ Ryan Bottrill, Clarkson: All-ECAC Hockey Thrid Team
➜ Arthur Smith, Princeton: All-ECAC Hockey Thrid Tea
Hockey East Association (Hockey East):
Wrapping up his senior season, Brandon Holt showed up big from the blue line for the University of Maine all season long. A former three-year skater for the New Mexico Ice Wolves (2019-22), Holt led all scoring this season, while setting career highs. He found the back of the net six times, logged 26 assists, and featured 32 points on the year. In addition, he led his team with 47 blocked shots. The captain was named as Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman thanks to his work on the ice. Holt also went home with the honors of Hockey East’s First-Time All-Star and as a Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award. That title is presented annually to the league player who consistently demonstrates superior conduct and sportsmanship on and off the ice.
Hockey East Honors
➜ Brandon Holt, Maine: HEA Best Defensive Defensman, First-Team All-Star, & Len Ceglarkski Sportsmanship Award
➜ Lawton Zacher, Northeastern: HEA Second-Team All-Star
➜ Jack Musa, UMass Amherst: HEA Second-Team All-Star
National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC):
➜ Eric Pohlkamp, Denver: NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year, All-NCHC First Team, Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalist
➜ David Deputy, Miami: NCHC All-Rookie Team
➜ Blake Messenburg, Miami: NCHC Sportmanship Award
