University of Minnesota Duluth junior goaltender Hunter Shepard added another entry to his already impressive 2018-19 resume Thursday night when he was announced as member of the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American first team (West). His teammate, sophomore defenseman Scott Perunovich, earned All-American second team honors after being a first-team pick one year ago.

Shepard, the reigning National Collegiate Hockey Conference Goaltender of the Year, currently paces the nation in wins with 28 (the second-highest single-season total in program history) while ranking fifth in goals against average (1.80),  third in shut outs (six) and first in minutes played (2,496:26). He's now made 80 consecutive starts (an ironman run that dates back to Oct. 21, 2017) and is one victory away from backstopping the Bulldogs to a second straight NCAA Frozen Four title.  Shepard, who is 3-0 with a 0.94 goals against average and a .963 saves percentage in this year's NCAA Tournament, becomes the fourth Bulldog puckstopper to ever attain All-American status and the first to do so in 10 years (Alex Stalock).

Perunovich, a two-time All-NCHC first team honoree, has racked up 29 points in 38 outings this seasons. His 26 assists not only are a career high, but the ninth highest total generated by any NCAA I defenseman this winter.

In its 58 years of NCAA I competition, UMD has produced 28 All-Americans, earning that distinction 12 times in the past 16 seasons. 

First Team (West)
G - Hunter Shepard, Jr, UMD
D - Quinn Hughes, So, Michigan
D - Jimmy Schuldt, Sr, St. Cloud State
F - Taro Hirose, Jr, Michigan State
F - Patrick Newell, Sr, St. Cloud State
F - Rem Pitlick, Jr, Minnesota 

First Team (East)
G - Cayden Primeau, So, Northeastern University
D - Adam Fox, Jr, Harvard
D - Cale Makar, So, Massachusetts
F - Mitchell Chaffee, So, Massachusetts
F - Ryan Kuffner, Sr, Princeton University
F - Nico Sturm, Jr, Clarkson 

Second Team (West)
G - Joey Daccord, Jr, Arizona State 
D - Jack Ahcan, Jr, St. Cloud State
D - Bobby Nardella, Sr,  Notre Dame
D - Scott Perunovich, Sr, UMD
F - Mason Jobst, Sr, Ohio State
F - Blake Lizotte, So, St. Cloud State
F - Troy Loggins, Sr, Northern Michigan  

Second Team (East)
G - Andrew Shortridge, Jr, Quinnipiac 
D - Jeremy Davies, Jr, Northeastern University
D - Joseph Duszak, Jr, Mercyhurst
F - Blake Christensen, Jr, American International
F - David Cotton, Jr, Boston College
F - Josh Wilkins, Jr, Providence College