Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State freshman defenseman Akito Hirose has been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year.
Minnesota State's top-scoring defenseman with 1-12--13 on the year, Hirose was named All-WCHA Third Team and also is a member of this year's WCHA All-Rookie Team.
His 13 points and 12 assists stand tied for second in the country amongst all freshmen blueliners and he leads the Mavericks with a +16 rating - a mark that ranks fourth in the country amongst all freshmen. The Calgary, Alta., native was named WCHA Rookie of the Week twice this season and was the league's Rookie of the Month for December. Hirose registered three points on three assists in four games played in December and during that time posted a +2 rating, with 11 shots on goal and two blocked shots in picking up WCHA Rookie of the Month honors. He was named WCHA Rookie of the Week following the Mavericks' two-game series vs. Bemidji State on Dec. 18-19.
Named BCHL's Top Defenseman and was a BCHL First Team All-Star for 2019-20, Hirose was a four-year veteran with Salmon Arm (BCHL) and is the younger brother of Taro Hirose, a former forward at Michigan State who plays for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings.
Hirose is the fifth Minnesota State player to have been named WCHA Rookie of the Year and first defenseman, joining goaltender Stephon Williams (2012-13) and forwards Marc Michaelis (2016-17), Jake Jaremko (2017-18) and Lucas Sowder (2019-20).
Minnesota State, which captured its fourth-consecutive MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular-season champions this year, finished the 2020-21 regular-season with an 18-3-1 overall record and hosts Ferris State in the first round of the WCHA play-offs this weekend.
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