Academic Excellence Meets Athletic Ambition
The National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced its 2025‑26 Honor Roll this week, recognizing a select group of student‑athletes who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the ice.
Among them, seven Bulldogs earned the Distinguished Scholar‑Athlete distinction, a tier reserved for those who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher while completing a full academic year.
The honorees include Hunter Anderson, Luke Bibby, Brady Cleveland, Ethan Dahlmeir, Kyler Kovich, Cole Sheffield, Grayden Siepmann, Jake Toll, Ryan Zaremba and Daniel Shlaine, each of whom balanced rigorous coursework with a demanding hockey schedule.
UMD’s total representation now stands at 24 players on the conference’s academic roll, of which 17 have achieved the higher Distinguished Scholar‑Athlete honor, underscoring the program’s commitment to academic excellence.
The Bulldogs finished the previous season with 26 skaters on the roster, a depth that has translated into a strong pipeline of talent both on the ice and in the classroom.
Importantly, the NCHC’s academic awards do not factor in athletic performance or ice time; they reward consistent scholarly achievement regardless of a player’s role or minutes played.
Freshmen and first‑year transfers were ineligible for the initial February awards, meaning the current cohort reflects the hard work of returning students and established veterans.
The recognition comes as the university continues to emphasize the balance between athletic ambition and academic rigor, a philosophy that resonates with coaches, faculty and alumni alike.