DENVER – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced on Tuesday that University of Denver hockey defenseman
Mike Benning has been named the NCHC Player of the Month and freshman forward
Carter Mazur has been named the NCHC Rookie of the Month.
This marks Denver's seventh and eighth player of the month honors of the season from the conference, and Mazur's third as Rookie of the Month. This is Benning's first career NCHC monthly honor after earning three Defenseman of the Week awards in 2021-22. DU had at least one monthly honor from the league in each of the six months.
Benning led all NCHC skaters in scoring in March and April, totaling 11 points and recording an NCHC-leading nine assists over the final month and a half of the season. He scored two goals in nine games, including tallying the championship-winning marker in the NCAA title game versus Minnesota State on April 9.
The St. Albert, Alberta, native compiled points in seven of the final nine games and had five points during Denver's NCAA Tournament run, including four multi-point games. He recorded two assists in the Frozen Four semifinals against Michigan on April 7 before registering an assist on the game-tying goal and tallying game-winner in the national championship game.
Benning earned Frozen Four All-Tournament Team honors and was also named the Most Outstanding Player. He finished the season second nationally among defensemen with 38 points in 41 games, while his 15 goals were also second among NCAA blueliners. He chipped in 23 assists and was plus-32 on the season, tied for fourth nationally.
Mazur led all NCHC rookies in March and April with seven points (2g/5a) in nine games, helping Denver win both the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champions and the NCAA National Championship. The NCHC Rookie of the Year had points in five of his final nine games, with a pair of multi-point outings.
The Jackson, Michigan, native had three points in a series sweep of Miami in the NCHC Quarterfinals and had the primary assist on the game-winning goal in the NCAA Regional Semifinals against UMass Lowell on March 24. In the NCAA Championship Game on April 9, Mazur had two primary assists to help the Pioneers to a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota State Mavericks.
A member of the NCHC All-Rookie Team, Mazur finished his first collegiate season second nationally among freshmen with 38 points in 41 games, scoring 14 goals and adding 24 assists. His 14 tallies were fifth in the NCAA among freshmen and tops among NCHC rookies.
Benning and Mazur are now eligible for the Hockey Commissioners' Association (HCA) National Player and Rookie of the Month awards, which will be announced on Thursday.
Minnesota Duluth's Ryan Fanti was named the NCHC Goaltender of the Month.
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