COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western Michigan hockey's Mattias Samuelsson, Paul Washe and head coach Andy Murray have been named finalists for National Collegiate Hockey Conference awards. Samuelsson is a finalist for the NCHC's Best Defensive Defenseman, Washe for the NCHC's Best Defensive Forward and Murray for the Herb Brooks Coach of the Year.
 
Samuelsson logged the most ice time out of any Bronco defenseman in his 24 conference games. He voters, the league's coaches and one media representative from each market, are only to consider conference games in the award. The Buffalo Sabres' draft pick finished with a plus/minus of +13, while racking up 12 points on two goals and eights assists.  Samuelsson also led the team with 37 blocked shots in conference play.
 
Washe was charged with stopping the opposing team's best line when he was out on the ice. The Clarkston, Mich., native finished the conference season with a .636 (262-150) faceoff percentage, a +3 plus/minus and 18 blocked shots. Washe played on both the power play and the penalty kill, racking up 14 points on nine goals and five assists.
 
Murray led the Broncos top a top four finish for the fourth time in the seven years of the NCHC. The Broncos finished conference play with a record of 12-9-3-2, taking fourth place and earning home ice advantage in the NCHC Playoffs before they were canceled. This is the third time that Murray has been a finalist for the award, winning in in 2017.
 
The winners will be revealed daily beginning Monday, March 23.