KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced its initial Academic All-Conference Team this afternoon. Western Michigan had 13 players on the list, including 11 Distinguished Scholar Athletes. 

To be eligible for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, a student-athlete must compile a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average or better, while having completed at least one full academic year at his current institution. Student-athletes that have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better are honored as NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, in addition to Academic All-Conference.

The Western Michigan Academic All-Conference selections were: Alex Bump, Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Robby Drazner, Cam Knuble, Kirk Laursen, Owen Michaels, Cameron Rowe, Wyatt Schingoethe, Samuel Sjolund, Ean Somoza, Garrett Szydlowski, Tim Washe and Ethan Wolthers. 

Crusberg-Roseen, Drazner, Knuble, Laursen, Michaels, Rowe, Sjolund, Somoza, Szydlowski, Washe and Wolthers all earned Distinguished Scholar Athlete status. 

While freshmen and inter-conference first-year transfers, including graduate transfers, are not currently eligible for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team or Distinguished Scholar-Athlete recognition (due to not having a full year at their current school), those freshmen and transfers that achieve a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year will be added to the Academic All-Conference Team over the summer. Similarly, any freshmen or first-year transfers who compile a 3.5 GPA or better will be named an NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete.