The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced the 2024-25 Preseason All-CCHA Team, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards as voted on by the league’s coaches and media and eight student-athletes from five different programs have been recognized. The trio of Lucas Wahlin, Isaac Gordon and Connor Milburn equally shared the votes for Player of the Year from the coaches, with Wahlin taking home solo honors from the media. The Rookie of the Year was split between Minnesota State’s Luke Ashton (Coaches) and Bemidji State’s Jaksen Panzer (Media).
The reigning CCHA Rookie of the Year, Gordon (Landmark, Man.) was second among all CCHA skaters in goals (11) during conference play, pacing league rookies in points (20) and plus-minus (+10) and finishing second in shots (66). Fifth overall in plus-minus, he was third on Michigan Tech with nine assists, including two helpers on the power play. Notching three multi-point games, he had two five-game point streaks during the conference season and tallied one game-winning goal. Overall, he played in all 40 games for the Huskies, recording 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points, which was tied for the most among all league skaters. He was a +8, with four power-play goals and one game-winner.
A junior and All-CCHA Second Team selection last season, Wahlin (Woodbury, Minn.) was seventh in the CCHA in points (20) in 2023-24, scoring eight goals and dishing out 12 assists in 24 league games. Second in the league in shots (86) and shots per game (3.6), he recorded two power-play goals, one shorthanded tally and one game-winner. Posting a plus-minus of +6, his five-point game (1 goal, 4 assists) at Ferris State on December 2 – a 7-1 Tommies victory – was the most by a CCHA player in a single conference game. In 37 games overall, he led St. Thomas with 30 points on 12 goals and 18 assists.
Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) was a Second Team All-CCHA selection last year as a sophomore, producing team-highs in conference assists (15), points (24) and face-off wins (210). Adding nine goals, including two game-winners, he was third in plus-minus (+6) and shots (57). The league leader in points during league play, he was second in assists and multi-point games (7). Playing in 34 games overall for the Lakers, he scored 16 goals and added 19 assists for 35 points, which was good for second on the team and third in the league.
Ashton (North Vancouver, B.C.) played with Langley Rivermen (BCHL) in 2023-24 and appeared in 53 games with 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points with 18 penalty minutes. Selected in sixth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (165th overall) by Columbus Blue Jackets, he skated in four playoff games for Langley, recording one goal. He played for the Vernon Vipers (BCHL) for two seasons before joining the Rivermen, totaling 81 games, two goals and seven assists.
Panzer (Grand Forks, N.D.) made 61 appearances for the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), scoring 18 goals and dishing out 21 assists for 39 points. In three playoff contests, he had a goal and an assist for two points. During the the 2022-23 season, he produced 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 58 games for the Stampede and is one of 10 newcomers to the Bemidji State roster.
The Preseason All-CCHA Team is made up of three All-CCHA Second Team forwards from 2023-24, including the league’s Rookie of the Year from a season ago. Also, a Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year Finalist and the conference’s reigning Goaltender of the Year. Joining Wahlin, Gordon and Milburn on the squad are sophomore blueliners Evan Murr (Minnesota State) and Chase Pietila (Michigan Tech) and senior netminder Mattias Sholl (Bemidji State).
A sophomore, Murr (Stillwater, Minn.) led all CCHA defensemen with 18 points during conference play in 2023-24, finishing fifth among all skaters with 13 assists and five multi-point games. Adding five goals, including one game-winner, he totaled eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) while the Mavericks were on the power play and blocked 16 shots at the defensive end. Overall, the Second Team All-CCHA and All-Rookie Team honoree registered six goals and 20 assists for 26 points in 37 contests.
Pietila (Howell, Mich.) played in all 40 games for the Huskies in 2023-24, totaling three goals and 19 assists for 22 points, which was good for fourth among league blueliners. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (111th overall), he notched two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 24 conference games last season. He was a two-time CCHA Defenseman of the Week and collected one Rookie of the Week award.
Sholl (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) led conference netminders in goals-against average (2.03) and winning percentage (.786) during the 2023-24 season, going 10-2-2 with a .924 save percentage in 14 games for the Beavers. The senior went 14-8-2 overall with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 24 games, posting three shutouts. He earned Goaltend of the Year honors, helping the Beavers to their second-ever MacNaughton Cup title.
2024-25 Preseason Players of the Year (Coaches)
Isaac Gordon, MTU
Connor Milburn, LSSU
Lucas Wahlin, UST
2024-25 Preseason Rookie of the Year (Coaches)
Luke Ashton, MSU
2024-25 Preseason All-CCHA Team (Coaches)
Isaac Gordon, MTU
Connor Milburn, LSSU
Lucas Wahlin, UST
Evan Murr, MSU
Chase Pietila, MTU
Mattias Sholl, BSU
2024-25 Preseason Player of the Year (Media)
Lucas Wahlin, UST
2024-25 Preseason Rookie of the Year (Media)
Jaksen Panzer, BSU
Preseason All-CCHA (Media)
Isaac Gordon, MTU
Connor Milburn, LSSU
Lucas Wahlin, UST
Evan Murr, MSU
Chase Pietila, MTU
Mattias Sholl, BSU