Mankato, Minn. --- The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced its 2017-18 all-conference teams this afternoon and nine Minnesota State individuals have been selected for recognition.

Mavericks earning all-league honors were senior forward C.J. Franklin (All-WCHA First Team), sophomore forward Marc Michaelis (All-WCHA First Team), junior defenseman Daniel Brickley (All-WCHA Second Team), senior forward Zeb Knutson (All-WCHA Third Team), sophomore defenseman Ian Scheid (All-WCHA Third Team) and senior goaltender Connor LaCouvee (All-WCHA Third Team).

Freshmen forwards Jake Jaremko and Reggie Lutz, along with freshman defenseman Connor Mackey, were named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.

Suess, who led the WCHA in scoring with 19-17--36 in 28 games, leads Minnesota State in goals with a career-high 22 and stands as Minnesota State's active career scoring leader with 127 points on 57 goals and 70 assists.  Suess has 22-21--43 on the season (t-11th nationally) and his 127 career points stand tied for fifth on the school's career scoring list for the DI-era.  He's tied for second in the nation with 460 face-off wins this year and is tied for third in plus/minus with a 22.

Michaelis is currently in the midst of an eight-game point-scoring streak (7-5--12) and stands third on the Mavericks in scoring with 18-21--39 in 32 games. Michaelis, who tied for second in WCHA scoring this year (15-17--32 in 24 games, owns 32-43--75 in 71 career games played.

Brickley, who has 10-23-33 on the season, stands fifth in the nation in points by defensemen.  Brickley has 20-55--75 in 103 career games to rank eighth on the school's career scoring by defensemen list for the NCAA DI era.

Knutson, who has career-high 28 assists and ranks second on the team scoring lead with 41 points this year, tied for second in the WCHA in scoring with 10-22--32 in 28 games. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native has 36-50--86 in 123 career games with the Mavericks. His 86 points is 21st on the school's career scoring list.

Scheid, who has 8-15--23 in 36 games played this year and ranked fifth in WCHA scoring by defensemen with 6-13--19 in 28 games, has 16-31--47 in 75 career games with Minnesota State (he hasn't missed a game during his time with the Mavericks).

LaCouvee, who has made the last 13 starts in goal for the Mavericks, has a 22-3-1 record to go along with a 1.75 goals against average and .917 save percentage.  He led the WCHA with a 1.67 GAA in league games. His 22 wins stand tied for first in the nation and rank fourth on the school's all-time single-season list.

Jaremko leads Minnesota State freshmen in scoring and ranks fourth on the team with 13-23--36 in 36 games.  Jaremko leds all WCHA freshmen in scoring with 11-20--31 in 28 league games. He currently ranks second in the nation in points amongst all freshmen.

Lutz, an Elk River, Minn., product, has 7-19--26 in 31 games played in his first season with Minnesota State. He finished third in the WCHA in freshmen scoring with 6-16--22 in 25 league contests.

Mackey, who's played in all 36 games for the Mavericks this year, has registered 4-8--12 in his first season of college hockey.

A total of 18 Mavericks were named WCHA All-Academic. To qualify for the WCHA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have completed one year of eligibility at present institution, prior to the current academic year and have a GPA of at least 3.0 for the previous two semesters or three quarters.

Michael Bigelbach (So., D, Red Wing, Minn.); , Daniel Brickley** (Jr., D, Sandy, Utah), Max Coatta** (Jr., F, Minnetonka, Minn.), Steen Cooper** (Jr., F, Duncan, B.C.), Josh French (So., F, Woodbury, Minn.); Charlie Gerard (So., F, Rocky River, Ohio); Edwin Hookenson (So., D, Lampman, Sask.); Zeb Knutson (Sr., F, Sioux Falls, S.D.); Clint Lewis (Sr., D, Burnsville, Minn.); Brad McClure (Sr., F, Stratford, Ont.); Marc Michaelis (So., F, Mannheim, Germany); Aaron Nelson*** (Sr., G, Bismark, N.D.), Jason Pawloski** (Jr., G, Omaha, Neb.), Nick Rivera (So., F, Pacific Palisades, Calif.); Ian Scheid (So., D, Coon Rapids, Minn.); Ryan Schwalbe** (Jr., F, Anchorage, Alaska), C.J. Suess (Sr., F, Forest Lake, Minn.); Alec Vanko** (So., D, Oregon, Wis.).
*indicates number of times student-athlete has been named to team.

The league is expected to announce its individual award recipients (Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Student-Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year) next Thursday.

Minnesota State (28-7-1 overall) hosts Michigan Tech this weekend in the second round of the WCHA play-offs.

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