DENVER – Four members of the Denver Pioneers men's hockey team presented by Centura Health were named finalists for NCHC Awards, the conference announced on Monday.
 
Freshman Bobby Brink is a finalist for Rookie of the Year, freshman Magnus Chrona is a finalist for Goalie of the Year, junior Ian Mitchell is a finalist for Offensive Defenseman of the Year and sophomore Emilio Pettersen is a finalist for Forward of the Year.
 
Brink was one of two unanimous selections for the NCHC All-Rookie team with 15 first-place votes. In his freshman season, the Minnetonka, Minn. native finished second in NCHC rookie scoring with 11 goals and 13 assists in 28 games. On the power play, Brink paced conference freshmen with 13 power-play points on six goals and seven assists. Brink had 77 shots, the second-most among NCHC freshmen, and finished the regular season with a +1 rating. He was selected 34^th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2019 NHL Draft.
 
Chrona posted a 16-6-4 record in the regular season and ranked 3rd among NCAA freshmen in GAA (2.15), save percentage (.920) and wins (16) to pair with two shutouts. His GAA ranked second among all NCHC goalies, while his save percentage paced all conference netminders. The Stockholm, Sweden native and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect joined Brink on the NCHC All-Rookie team with the third-most votes and is the only freshman NCHC Goalie of the Year finalist
 
Tabbed First-Team All-NCHC, Mitchell had 10 goals and 22 assists in 36 games, finishing the regular season tied for 6^th among NCAA defensemen in scoring, and seven goals and 13 assists in 24 conference games, finishing 3^rd among NCHC defensemen in scoring. Among NCHC defensemen, the Chicago Blackhawks prospect and Calahoo, Alberta native shared the lead in goals (10), ranked 2^nd in points (32) and 3^rd in assists (22). Mitchell also led NCHC defensemen with shorthanded goals (2), game-winning goals (3) and shots on goal (100), while ranking second in power-play points (18).
 
Pettersen was named Second-Team All-Conference after recording 13 goals and 22 assists in 36 games and 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 conference games. The Maglerud, Norway native and Calgary Flames prospect led the Pioneers in regular-season scoring with 35 points and ranked T-4^th among all NCHC skaters. In conference games, Pettersen's 23 points ranked T-5^th. Pettersen scored 20 of his 35 points on the power-play, ranking second among NCHC skaters and 8^th in the NCAA in power play points, and tallied 103 shots to lead the Crimson & Gold.

View the full list of finalists below.
 
Herb Brooks Coach of the Year
Brad Berry, North Dakota
Andy Murray, Western Michigan
Scott Sandelin, Minnesota Duluth
 
Player of the Year
Jack Ahcan, Sr., D, SCSU
Jordan Kawaguchi, Jr., F, UND
Scott Perunovich, Jr., D, Minnesota Duluth
 
Senior Scholar-Athlete Award
Karch Bachman, F, Miami
Zach Jordan, F, Omaha
Colton Poolman, D, UND
 
Rookie of the Year
Bobby Brink, F, Denver
Shane Pinto, F, North Dakota
Nolan Sullivan, F, Omaha
 
Goaltender of the Year
Magnus Chrona, Fr., Denver
David Hrenak, Jr., SCSU
Hunter Shepard, Sr., Minnesota Duluth
 
Forward of the Year
Noah Cates, So., UMD
Jordan Kawaguchi, Jr., North Dakota
Emilio Pettersen, So., Denver
 
Defensive Defenseman of the Year
Colton Poolman, Sr., North Dakota
Mattias Samuelsson, So., WMU
Nick Wolff, Sr., UMD
 
Offensive Defenseman of the Year
Matt Kiersted, Jr., UND
Ian Mitchell, Jr., Denver
Scott Perunovich, Jr., Minnesota Duluth
 
Defensive Forward of the Year
Justin Richards, Jr., Minnesota Duluth
Cole Smith, Sr., UND
Paul Washe, Jr., WMU

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