Scott Perunovich has had himself quite the debut collegiate season and the College Hockey News recognized that by naming the University of Minnesota Duluth defenseman its Rookie of the Year for 2017-18. 

Perunovich, who became just the second Bulldog rookie to ever attain All-NCHC/WCHA first team honors (center Murray Keogan was the other -- in 1969-70 when the Bulldogs were aligned with the WCHA), has racked up a team-leading 35 points this winter. That is a UMD program single-season record for a freshman defenseman and two points more than the previous mark, which was set by current Carolina Hurricane team captain Justin Faulk in his first (and only) season with the Bulldogs in 2010-11.

Perunovich, the 2017-18 NCHC Rookie of the Year and its Offensive Defenseman of the Year (both Bulldog firsts), currently ranks third among all NCAA rookies with those 35 points (the highest total of any first-year defenseman in the country). The Hibbing, Minn.,native also first in plus-minus rating (a Bulldog best +19), tied for third in assists (24) and tied for seventh in power play points (18).