By Michael Caples –
The Michigan schools with NCAA Division 1 hockey programs may not have fared so well with All-American selections, but two Michigan natives playing for schools outside the Mitten state were named to the prestigious list on Friday.
Washington native Austin Czarnik, a junior forward with Miami (Ohio), and Commerce native Connor Hellebuyck, a sophomore goaltender with UMass-Lowell, were two of the 25 players chosen for All-America teams.
Czarnik, who announced via Twitter that he will return for his senior season, was named to the West Second Team after leading the RedHawks with 47 points in 37 games. He had 13 goals and 34 points on the season.
Hellebuyck, who signed with Winnipeg shortly after his season concluded, was named to the East First Team after posting a 18-9-2 record with a .941 save percentage and 1.79 goals-against average. He also won the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top college goaltender.