DENVER – Three University of Denver hockey players have been recognized with end of season awards by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Senior Magnus Chrona was named Goaltender of the Year and was also the recipient of the Three Stars Award, while senior Justin Lee was named Defensive Defenseman of the Year and junior Mike Benning was named Offensive Defenseman of the Year.
 
All three players were recognized at the NCHC Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 16 in St. Paul, Minnesota, prior to Frozen Faceoff.
 
Chrona posted a 17-4-0 record in 22 starts in NCHC play, with the 17 wins leading all goalies. His 2.23 goals-against average in NCHC action ranked second, while his .915 save percentage was third. The Stockholm, Sweden, native led the league with four shutouts in conference play. Overall, Chrona has a 22-8-0 record, a .915 save percentage and an NCHC-best 2.19 goals-against average.
 
This is the fourth time for DU and Chrona is the third different goaltender to earn the honor for the Pios, with him joining Tanner Jaillet in 2017 and 2018 and Sam Brittain in 2014. He is a repeat winner of the Three Stars Award, which is given to the player that is recognized the most in the three stars of the game ceremony during conference games.
 
Lee has played in all 39 games this season for the Pioneers and ranks first in plus-minus rating at plus-30. He is also first with 54 penalty minutes and second with 52 blocked shots. The Waskada, Manitoba, native has also added 13 points (6g/6a) and a career-high six goals, with four of them being game-winners.
 
Benning leads all NCHC defensemen with 13 goals and 34 points in 38 games this season, tying for first among NCAA blueliners in goals and ranking third in points. The St. Albert, Alberta, native was second in conference play this year with 20 points, while his nine goals were three more than any other defenseman in NCHC action. He also posted a plus-17 plus/minus in conference play, which ranked second.
 
Benning is the first player to earn Offensive Defenseman of the Year since Will Butcher in 2017.
 
Lee is the first-ever DU player to be named Defensive Defenseman of the Year. Joey LaLeggia won Defenseman of the Year in both 2014 and 2015 before the Defensive Defenseman award was created in 2017.

 
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