St. Norbert College’s Bates Named Player of the Year as NCHA Releases All-League Honors and Awards
The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s Conference announced the 2021-22 season award winners today, including Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year, the All-Conference Team, and the All-Freshmen Team.
The 2021-22 Player of the Year is Peter Bates, a senior forward at St. Norbert College. The Evanston, Ill., native not only paced the conference in scoring but currently leads the NCAA Division III level in total points (55), points-per-game (2.04), and goals (27), while also sitting second in assists (28) and game-winning goals (6). In league play, Bates put together an 18-17-35 statline that gave him the top point and goal numbers league-wide this winter.
“Peter has worked very hard on his game to become a complete 200-foot player,” SNC head coach Tim Coghlin said. “He also led the league in scoring wire to wire. His commitment in the offseason is unmatched by any others in our room.”
This marks the second NCHA Player of the Year honor for Bates in his career, also claiming the award following the 2019-20 campaign (the St. Norbert program did not play last winter). It marks just the third time an NCHA player has earned the top league accolade twice in a career in league history, and the first since Zach Graham (Adrian College) did so back in 2012 and 2013. He also earned NCHA Offensive Player of the Week four times this season, the first player with four weekly awards since 2010-11.
“Peter is a man of high character who leads by example daily,” Coghlin said. “We are proud of Peter and he is very deserving of the honor that comes with the NCHA Player of the Year award.”
The league coaches also voted for Freshman of the Year, resulting in another Green Knight being honored with Liam Fraser earning the distinction. The newcomer burst onto the scene in a big way, finishing fourth in league play with 29 points (14G/15A), while his offensive exploits also sit right behind Bates nationally in both points (45) and goals (22) in overall action.
The 2021-22 Coach of the Year is Adrian’s Adam Krug, a repeat winner from last season who has now earned the distinction four times in his career. He has led the Bulldogs to an amazing campaign, winning 26 straight contests following a loss in the season opener way back at the end of October.
Adrian has been the No. 1 team in the USCHO.com national poll since mid-December and has been the unanimous selection each of the past two weeks, as well as six of the last eight polls. Krug led AC to an unblemished 18-0-0 league ledger, earning the Peters Cup for the third consecutive winter. The team sits 26-1-0 overall and led the NCHA in scoring offense (6.89 gpg) and scoring defense (1.96 gpg) by wide margins.
Bates was joined on the all-league squad by teammate Peyton Frantti, who, like Bates, was also an all-league honoree following the 2019-20 season. Frantti was also a huge part of the offensive machine for the Green Knights, finishing second in league play with 30 points, scoring 12 times while adding 18 assists. Fraser earned a spot on the NCHA All-Freshman Team.
Following the 18-0 campaign, Adrian had an NCHA-best four all-league performers, topped by repeat showing by forward Alessio Luciani and goalie Cameron Gray. Also earning the top honors was forward Sam Ruffin and defenseman Matt Eller. Newcomer Matt Couto rounded out the program on the all-freshman squad.
Luciani, the NCHA Player of the Year last winter, was tied for second in scoring in league play at 30 points (9G/21A), while placing seventh overall in the NCAA in points (39) and tied for fourth with his 26 assists. Gray was unbeatable, finishing with a 2.53 goals-against average and a perfect 12-0 mark in NCHA contests in which he appeared. His .908 save percentage was second in league play and his season GAA of 2.25 ranks No. 30 in the NCAA. Ruffin claims his first league accolades following a 29-point campaign (10G/19A), while Eller was also a first-timer after recording nine assists as part of the league-leading defense.
Aurora had two players receive honors for a second time in Brayden Sampson and Josh Boyko, both who were honored as all-league members in 2020. Teammate Matt Weber was also recognized with a spot on the all-freshman team. Sampson topped defensemen in points in league play at 20 (5G/15A) while also helping the Spartans to a 12-6 mark and numerous weeks spent in the national Top 15. Boyko paced NCHA backstops in save percentage (.915) and was third with a 2.68 goals-against average. Weber chipped in six goals and 10 assists for 16 points.
Josh Giacomin earns postseason honors for Lake Forest College for a third time in his career, grabbing a spot on the all-league team for the second time in three seasons following an all-frosh nod in 2019. Giacomin recorded 27 points, scoring 10 goals while adding 17 assists to place sixth in league play in scoring. Matteas Derraugh also stepped up as a freshman to earn a spot on the newcomer squad for the Foresters.
MSOE had a repeat honoree, with Garrett Gintoli picking up all-league laurels after another strong campaign. Gintoli finished with 24 points, scoring 13 goals while adding 11 assists. He was joined by Darius Bell in postseason honors, with Bell on the NCHA All-Freshman Team after posting a 5-5-1 record, .883 save percentage, and 3.19 goals-against average. Bell also picked up NCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors Jan. 16.
Trine University was represented by Hunter Payment on the all-league team and Bobby Price on the all-freshman list. Payment tallied 15 points (2G/13A) while helping the Thunder to the No. 4 seed and an 11-7 mark, while Price made a great first impression, registering 22 points (9G/13A) while picking up NCHA Player of the Week honors Dec. 14.
Kyle Gierman, an all-freshman pick for Lawrence a year ago, concludes the postseason honors list on the all-conference squad after posting a 15-point campaign, with his 15 assists tops among all NCHA defensemen.
2021-22 NCHA All-Conference Team
Peter Bates, St. Norbert College (F/Sr./Evanston, Ill.)
*2020 All-League/POY | 2018 All-Freshman
Peyton Frantti, St. Norbert College (F/Sr./Spring Grove, Ill.)
*2020 All-League | 2019 All-Freshman
Josh Giacomin, Lake Forest College (F/Sr. Calgary, Alberta)
*2020 All-League | 2019 All-Freshman
Garrett Gintoli, MSOE (F/Gr./Shelton, Conn.)
*2021 All-League
Alessio Luciani, Adrian College (F/Jr./Toronto, Ontario)
*2021 All-League/POY
Sam Ruffin, Adrian College (F/Sr./Westfield, Ind.)
Matt Eller, Adrian College (D/Sr./Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Kyle Gierman, Lawrence University (D/So./Shelby Township. Mich.)
*2021 All-Freshman
Hunter Payment, Trine University (D/Sr./Monroe, Mich.)
Brayden Sampson, Aurora University (D/Sr./Oakville, Ontario)
*2020 All-League
Josh Boyko, Aurora University (G/Sr./Mississauga, Ontario)
*2020 All-League | 2018 All-Freshman
Cameron Gray, Adrian (G/Sr./Austin, Texas)
*2020 All-League
NCHA All-Freshman Team
Liam Fraser, St. Norbert (F/Calgary, Alberta)
Bobby Price, Trine University (F/Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.)
Matt Weber, Aurora University (F/Coraopolis, Penn.)
Matt Couto, Adrian College (D/London, Ontario)
Matteas Derraugh, Lake Forest College (D/Ithaca, N.Y.)
Darius Bell, MSOE (G/Miami, Fla.)
NCHA Player of the Year: Peter Bates, St. Norbert College
NCHA Freshman of the Year: Liam Fraser, St. Norbert College
NCHA Coach of the Year: Adam Krug, Adrian College