Joining the nine University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey returners that were named National Collegiate Hockey Conference 2022-23 Academic All Conference Team selections in February, 10 Bulldog freshman and first-year transfers have now garnered recognition for their work in the classroom during the past academic year, the conference announced Friday. Those 10 include Kyle Bettens (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Riley Bodnarchuk (Okotoks, Alberta), Derek Daschke (Troy, Mich.), Aiden Dubinsky (Highland Park, Ill.), Luke Johnson (St. Cloud, Minn.) , Joey Pierce (Hermantown, Minn.), Zach Sandy (Fargo, ND) , Jack Smith (St. Cloud, Minn.), Ben Steeves (Bedford, NH), and Matthew Thiessen (Steinbach, Manitoba). Of the 10 named, seven were also tabbed NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for exceptional academic achievement following completion of their first year at UMD -- Bodnarchuk, Dubinsky, Pierce, Sandy, Smith, Steeves and Thiessen.

The 10 run the Bulldogs 2022-23 All-Academic total to 19 student athletes strong, 10 of which earned NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Among freshmen and first-year transfers only, UMD was tied for the second most selections in the NCHC.

To be eligible for the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, a student-athlete must compile a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (or better) and have completed a full academic year at their current institution. Similarly, for NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, a student-athlete must attain a 3.5 cumulative GPA or better with a full year of academic studies. Freshmen and first-year transfers were not eligible when the honors were first announced in late February, as they had not completed a full academic year, but with the 2022-23 academic calendar complete, the newcomers are now eligible to earn NCHC academic honors. Athletic success and playing time are not criteria for these awards.

To read up on the previous nine players to grab academic honors in February, click here.