Whether it was Jordan Kawaguchi becoming a Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist a year ago or Shane Pinto winning the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Player of the Year award by a unanimous vote this week, the Fighting Hawk forwards have rightfully gained a lot of attention for having the league's best offense the past two seasons.
But the Fighting Hawks have been more than just an offensive power.
This week, UND became the first team to sweep the NCHC's three major defensive awards in conference history.
Pinto is the NCHC's defensive forward of the year. He beat out Western Michigan's Paul Washe to earn the honor.
Jacob Bernard-Docker is the NCHC's defensive defenseman of the year. He beat out his own teammate, Matt Kiersted, who finished as the runner-up.
Scheel is the league's goaltender of the year. He beat out Miami freshman Ludvig Persson.
"It's one of those things that we just go about our business as a team as far as our identity and what it takes to play for North Dakota," UND coach Brad Berry said. "A lot of guys come in to North Dakota from a lot of different parts of the country. Shane is from Long Island (New York), JBD comes from Alberta. Scheeler is from Cleveland. These guys all had success in juniors, checked their egos at the door and they do whatever it takes."
Pinto became the league's first player to win both forward of the year and defensive forward of the year in the same season. While he led the league in both goals (15) and points (28), he was also recognized for his defensive play.
Pinto, a sophomore from Franklin Square, N.Y., won more faceoffs (309) and had a higher faceoff percentage (62.0) than any other player in the league. The UND school record for faceoff percentage is 62.3, held by Rhett Gardner in 2018-19. Like Pinto, Gardner won the NCHC's defensive forward of the year once, as did Mark MacMillan.
Since the league instituted the defensive defenseman of the year honor in 2016-17, UND has won it three times in five years. Tucker Poolman won it in the inaugural year, while his younger brother, Colton, won it last season.
Bernard-Docker, a junior from Canmore, Alta., joins the Poolmans. Bernard-Docker has a plus-15 rating, which ranks second in the NCHC. He's fifth in the league with 15 points from the blue line.
"In order to play in the offensive zone, you have to play hard away from the puck," Berry said. "These guys are willing to do it. You see very gifted offensive players willing to do it. That's a big deal and part of the character you have to have to get here. I commend our guys for doing it. You reap the rewards when you pay attention to the defensive side of things."
Scheel is the second UND player to win NCHC goalie of the year, joining Zane McIntyre in 2014-15. McIntyre, who led UND to the NCAA Frozen Four that season, also won the Mike Richter Award as the national goalie of the year. Scheel is a finalist for that award.
Scheel has a 16-3-1 record with a .929 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average.
NCHC goalies of the year
2020-21 -- Adam Scheel, North Dakota
2019-20 -- Hunter Shepard, Minnesota Duluth
2018-19 -- Hunter Shepard, Minnesota Duluth
2017-18 -- Tanner Jaillet, Denver
2016-17 -- Tanner Jaillet, Denver
2015-16 -- Charlie Lindgren, St. Cloud State
2014-15 -- Zane McIntyre, North Dakota
2013-14 -- Sam Brittain, Denver
NCHC defensive defensemen of the year
2020-21 -- Jacob Bernard-Docker, North Dakota
2019-20 -- Colton Poolman, North Dakota
2018-19 -- Jimmy Schuldt, St. Cloud State
2017-18 -- Will Borgen, St. Cloud State
2016-17 -- Tucker Poolman, North Dakota
NCHC defensive forwards of the year
2020-21 -- Shane Pinto, North Dakota
2019-20 -- Justin Richards, Minnesota Duluth
2018-19 -- Justin Richards, Minnesota Duluth
2017-18 -- Rhett Gardner, North Dakota
2016-17 -- Dominic Toninato, Minnesota Duluth
2015-16 -- Sean Kuraly, Miami
2014-15 -- Mark MacMillan, North Dakota
2013-14 -- Nic Dowd, St. Cloud State
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Shane Pinto, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Adam Scheel give UND first defensive award trifecta in NCHC history - Grand Forks Herald
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