KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Alex Bump,
Luke Grainger and
Dylan Wendt were named finalists for various conference awards, the league announced Thursday afternoon.
Bump joins Zeev Buium (Denver) and Jake Livanavage (North Dakota) as Rookie of the Year finalists. Bump was outstanding in 24 conference games this season, totaling 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists.
Throughout the year Bump was recognized multiple times, including NCHC Rookie of the Month honors in February. On the season, Bump has produced 29 points on 11 goals and 18 assists. Western Michigan has never had a NCHC Rookie of the Year winner.
Grainger is a finalist for the Senior Scholar Athlete award, which is given annually to the player who exhibits exceptional work on the ice, in the classroom and in the community. WMU's senior captain is joined as a finalist by Matt Miller (Omaha) and Dominic Basse (St. Cloud State).
On the ice, Grainger has been WMU's leader in points this season, tallying 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists in 34 games. He was announced as an All-NCHC Second Team performer yesterday afternoon.
In the classroom, Grainger has a 3.71 GPA in Finance, and he's been a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar Athlete. Additionally, he earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors last season.
Grainger would be the third Bronco to win the award. Drew Worrad won it in 2021-22, while Kale Bennett earned the honor in 2020-21.
Finally, Wendt is up for the league's Sportsmanship Award alongside Darian Gotz (Minnesota Duluth) and Veeti Miettinen (St. Cloud State). Wendt has been one of WMU's best players this season, recording 39 points on 21 goals and 18 assists.
Throughout his career, Wendt has always exhibited great sportsmanship, as evidence by his ability to stay out of the penalty box. This season, Wendt has just five penalties, and he's committed just nine in his entire career. None of those penalties are majors.
Wendt would become Western Michigan's first Sportsmanship Award winner. The Broncos have had at least one NCHC individual award winner each of the last three seasons.
