COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Omaha seniors
David Pope,
Tyler Vesel and
Joel Messner are all finalists for several NCHC post-season awards, the conference announced today.
Pope is a finalist for Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and the NCHC Three Star Award. Vesel is a finalist for Defensive Forward of the Year and the Sportsmanship Award. Vesel was the co-winner of the Sportsmanship Award last season. Messner is up for Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
Pope is having a career year with 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 33 games. He ranks fourth in the conference in scoring for all games played in conference games only (14-14-28). He leads the NCHC with 12 power play goals and 21 power play points.
Vesel is UNO's second-leading scorer with 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points. He is one of only four Mavericks to play in all 34 games this season. He has scored seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 24 NCHC games. He leads all UNO forwards with 31 blocked shots.
Like Pope, Messner is having a career year with five goals and 18 assists for 23 points, all career highs. He is UNO's top defenseman scorer and one of the four Mavericks to play in all 34 games this season. He leads the Mavericks with 67 blocked shots.
All of the award finalists can be found in the attached NCHC release
The awards winners will be announced on Thursday, March 15 on the eve of the 2018 NCHC Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minn.
