April 8, 2016 University of Denver student-athlete Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wisc.) has been named a 2016 Second Team (West) All-American the American Hockey Coaches Association announced today. The nation's top 24 college hockey players were announced this afternoon at the NCAA Men's Division I Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida (click HERE to view the complete list of honorees).
Butcher, 21, recorded 32 points (9G-23A) in 39 games played this season, ranking third in the nation in scoring by a defenseman. The junior blueliner earned First Team All-NCHC honors in March after being named the conference's Defenseman of the Week four times during the 2015-16 campaign.
A 2013 draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche (Round 5, 123rd Overall), Butcher finished T-1st on the Pioneers in plus/minus this season, registering a mark of +19. He also finished T-1st on the team in power play goals with four and is one of only four rearguards in the NCHC to have scored a shorthanded marker this season.
Denver's 2015-16 season came to an end on Thursday with a 4-2 loss to the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the National Semifinal Game. The Pioneers' appearance in this year's Frozen Four was their first since 2005 while the team reached 20 wins (25-10-6) for the 15th season in a row, the longest active streak in the NCAA. Deposits on 2016-17 DU Hockey season tickets can be made by clicking HERE.
