COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For their performance in the classroom, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has added 91 freshmen and first-year transfers to the 2024-25 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team after having completed a full academic year at their current school. Among the 91 newcomers, 68 were also tabbed NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes for their strong academic achievement this past season.
 
The NCHC originally named 131 student-athletes to the 2024-25 Academic All-Conference Team in February who were sophomores, juniors, seniors or grad students, along with honoring a record 91 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes. Adding in the newcomers who have now finished a full academic year, a total of 222 student-athletes garnered NCHC Academic All-Conference Team honors in 2024-25, with 159 of them earning Distinguished Scholar-Athlete recognition. Both totals are the most in conference history.
 
To earn a spot on the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, a student-athlete must compile a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (or better) and have completed a full academic year at their current institution. Similarly, to garner NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors, a student-athlete must attain a 3.5 cumulative GPA or better with a full year of academic studies. Freshmen and first-year transfers were not eligible when NCHC academic accolades were first announced in late February. Athletic success and playing time are not criteria for these awards.
 
Among freshmen and first-year transfers only, Omaha led the way with 13 Academic All-Conference honorees, followed by 12 from Western Michigan and 11 each from Arizona State, Colorado College and Minnesota Duluth. Each team had at least seven newcomers honored.
 
Overall on the 2024-25 Academic All-Conference Team, Arizona State, Colorado College and Omaha each saw 27 student-athletes honored, followed by Western Michigan’s 25. Miami, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State each had 24 total honorees this past season, while every NCHC team is home to at least 22 student-athletes named Academic All-Conference.
 
Among those with a 3.5 GPA or better, Colorado College and Omaha each saw nine newcomers garner Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors to lead the NCHC, while UMD saw eight newcomers tabbed Distinguished Scholar-Athletes. Six NCHC teams had seven freshmen or first-year transfers land the accolade.
 
As a whole in 2024-25, Colorado College is once again home to the most Distinguished Scholar-Athletes with 24, followed by Denver with 20, and 19 from Arizona State in its first year in the NCHC. Western Michigan is home to 18 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes this past season, while Omaha had 17. No team had fewer than 13 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes in 2024-25.
 
In addition to its Academic All-Conference Team, the NCHC announced St. Cloud State defenseman Josh Luedtke as its 2025 recipient of the annual NCHC Postgraduate Scholarship on June 18, while Denver goaltender Matt Davis earned the 2025 NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award in March. The NCHC is also home to 23 student-athletes who earned Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators (CSC) and a trio of Academic All-Americans this past season, as well as 56 student-athletes who were tabbed Krampade All-American Scholars by the AHCA.
 
The complete list of freshmen and first-year transfers who earned NCHC Academic All-Conference Team and Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors in 2024-2025 is below, with Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (3.5 cumulative GPA or better) noted in bold. To see the original list of 131 NCHC Academic All-Conference Team members and 91 Distinguished Scholar-Athletes announced in February, click here.
 
ARIZONA STATE
Noah Beck
Brasen Boser
Zakari Brice
Sam Court
Joel Kjellberg
Cruz Lucius
Hunter Mullett
Luke Pavicich
Cullen Potter
Bennett Schimek
Artem Shlaine
 
COLORADO COLLEGE
Nick Baer
Owen Beckner
Philippe Blais-Savoie
Jordan Brisson
Brady Cleveland
Ty Gallagher
Ryan Koering
Gavin Lindberg
Chase McLane
Carsen Musser
Fisher Scott
 
DENVER
Hagen Burrows
Jake Fisher
Tory Pitner
Eric Pohlkamp
James Reeder
Samu Salminen
Alec Whipple
 
MIAMI
Ethan Dahlmeir
John Emmons
Christophe Fillion
Teodor Forssander
David Grosek
Brett Miller
Casper Nassen
Michael Quinn
 
MINNESOTA DULUTH
Callum Arnott
Blake Bechen
Harper Bentz
Adam Gajan
Ty Hanson
Adam Kleber
Klayton Knapp
Max Plante
Zam Plante
Jayson Shaugabay
Trevor Stachowiak
 
NORTH DAKOTA
Dalton Andrew
Sacha Boisvert
Cody Croal
EJ Emery
Jayden Jubenvill
Cade Littler
Caleb MacDonald
T.J. Semptimphelter
Mac Swanson
Carter Wilkie
 
OMAHA
Marcus Broberg
Aiden Gallacher
Joe Gramer
Dylan Gratton
Myles Hilman
Harrison Israels
Chase LaPinta
Isaiah Norlin
Garrett Pinoniemi
Kevin Reidler
Sam Stange
Alexei Van Houtte-Cachero
Liam Watkins
 
ST. CLOUD STATE
Austin Burnevik
Thor Byfuglien
Gavin Enright
Daimon Gardner
Colin Ralph
Gavyn Thoreson
Ocean Wallace
Josh Zinger
 
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Zach Bade
Connor Brown
Grady Gallatin
Iiro Hakkarainen
Brian Kramer
Ryan Kusler
Zach Nehring
Zack Sharp
Grant Slukynsky
Hampton Slukynsky
Joona Väisänen
Liam Valente