Scott Perunovich and Hunter Shepard both received All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference recognition one year ago and the media who cover the league expect more of the same from that University of Minnesota Duluth tandem this season.

Today, the 2017-18 Preseason All-NCHC Team was unveiled and that six-member unit included both Perunovich and Shepard. UMD and St Cloud State University led the league with two representatives each.

Perunovich, the reigning NCHC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year (both UMD program firsts), was the recipient of Hockey Commissioner's Association Tim Taylor Award as the National Rookie of the Year and received All-American and All-NCHC first team honors. Perunovich paces the national champion Bulldogs in scoring -- just the second defenseman to do so --  with 36 points on 11 goals and 25 assists  in 42 games.  Among NCAA rookies, Perunovich ranked first in plus-minus rating (+22) and third in both points and assists.

Shepard, who came into 2017-18 with just two collegiate appearances to his credit, secured All-NCHC second team status and was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award (most outstanding NCAA goaltender). He also set school records for both shutouts (eight, which was also an all-time NCHC best) and a program-best 1.91 goals against average while going 25-14-1 in 41 outings. A member of the 2018 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, Shepard also turned in the second best single-season saves percentage figure (.925) in team history.


2018-19 Preseason All-NCHC Team
F - Nick Halloran, Jr., Colorado College
F - Wade Allison, Jr., Western Michigan
F - Robby Jackson, Sr., St. Cloud State
D - Scott Perunovich, So., UMD
D - Jimmy Schuldt, Sr., St. Cloud State
G - Hunter Shepard, Jr.,UMD