
UND sophomore Shane Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y.) is the 2021 NCHC Player of the Year. (Russell Hons/North Dakota Athletics)
North Dakota sophomore forward Shane Pinto (Franklin Square, N.Y.) was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Player of the Year on Thursday, becoming the first UND player to win the award in conference history.
Pinto, 20, also becomes the first player in the eight years of the conference’s existence to win the award unanimously.
The award, given to the player receiving the most votes from the head coaches and select media members of the conference’s eight schools, comes on the heels of Pinto already receiving First Team All-NCHC honors, as well as the league’s Forward and Defensive Forward of the Year awards.