Men's Ice Hockey | March 09, 2017

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western Michigan hockey's Ben Blacker, Sheldon Dries and head coach Andy Murray have all been named finalists for National Collegiate Hockey Conference awards.
 
Murray has been named a finalist for Herb Brooks Coach of the Year award after leading the Broncos to a third-place finish in the NCHC. WMU finished the regular season with a 13-9-2-1 conference record and a 20-9-5 overall record. It's the second time Murray has led the Broncos to a 20-win season.  Only Western Michigan legend Bill Wilkinson has won an official league coach of the year award, winning CCHA Coach of the Year in 1984, 1986 and 1996. Denver's Jim Montgomery and Minnesota-Duluth's Scott Sandelin are the other two finalists for the award.
 
Dries was named a finalist for Defensive Forward of the Year, along with UMD's Dominic Toninato and Karson Kulhman. WMU's captain was the top shot-blocking forward in conference play with 42 and earned significant playing time on the penalty kill, recording one short-handed goal. Dries was recently named Second Team All-NCHC after scoring 22 points in conference play on 12 goals and 10 assists.
 
Blacker was named finalist for Goalie of the Year and for the Three Stars Award. Blacker, a member of the NCHC All-Rookie Team, earned 10 wins in conference play and 15 overall. The Three Stars Award is handed out to the player who accumulates the most points (based on a 5-3-1 scale) in conference games for being named one of the Three Stars of the Game. Blacker is also a finalist along with DU's Henrik Borgstrom, UMD's Adam Johnson and Hunter Miska.
 
Western Michigan hosts Omaha in the NCHC Quarterfinals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary). All games are slated for 7 p.m. starts. Tickets are available for just $15 by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at wmubroncos.com/tickets. All games will be broadcast live on NCHC.tv.