Brian Halonen named to WCHA All-Rookie Team

• WCHA Release

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Michigan Tech forward Brian Halonen has been named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team the league announced on Thursday (March 14). Fifteen Huskies were also named to the WCHA All-Academic Team.

Halonen, a freshman from Delano, Minnesota, led the Huskies—and all WCHA rookies—with 12 goals after skating in 35-of-38 games this season. He also added nine assists and was third on Tech with 21 points to rank third amongst WCHA freshmen.

Halonen scored two goals, including the game-winner, at Alaska Anchorage on January 25. He was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week on October 29 after tallying four points at Wisconsin. He had a pair of assists Friday and a goal and an assist Saturday. He also had a pair of assists against Northern Michigan (March 1) in the home finale.

Halonen scored the series-opening goal four weekends in a row at Bemidji State (Jan. 18), at Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 25), against Minnesota State (Feb. 8) in Winter Carnival, and at Lake Superior State (Feb. 15). Six of his points came on the power play with three goals and three assists. Halonen also ranked third amongst league freshmen with 87 shots on goal.

Recent Huskies named to the WCHA All-Rookie team include Mitch Reinke and Angus Redmond in 2016-17, Jake Lucchini in 2015-16, and Alex Petan in 2012-13. Recent freshmen to lead Tech in goals were Gavin Gould in 2016-17, Alex Petan in 2012-13, and Ryan Furne in 2011-12.

The WCHA All-Academic Teams were also announced and 15 Huskies were honored:
 • Raymond Brice (So., F, Houghton, Michigan)
 • Thomas Beretta (Jr., F, King City, Ontario)
 • Robbie Beydoun (So., G, Plymouth, Michigan)
 • Seamus Donohue (So., D, North Oaks, Minnesota)
 • Devin Kero (Sr., G, Hancock, Michigan)
 • Todd Kiilunen (So., D, Brighton, Michigan)
 • Jake Lucchini (Sr., F, Trail, British Columbia)
 • Mitch Meek (So., D, Victoria, British Columbia)
 • Justin Misiak (So., F, St. Clair Shores, Michigan)
 • Greyson Reitmeier (So., F, Nakusp, British Columbia)
 • Tyler Rockwell (So., D, San Jose, California)
 • Marcus Russell (So., F, Traverse City, Michigan)
 • Alex Smith (Jr., F, Edmonton, Alberta)
 • Dylan Steman (Sr., F, Hanover, Minnesota)
 • Cooper Watson (So., D, Appleton, Wisconsin)

To earn recognition as a member of the WCHA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have completed one year of eligibility at their present institution prior to the current academic year, have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if overall GPA is at least 3.0 for all terms at the present institution.

The All-WCHA teams are listed below. The three All-WCHA First Team forwards are now finalists for the 2018-19 WCHA Offensive Player of the Year, the two All-WCHA First Team defensemen are candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year and the seven players (with ties) on the All-Rookie Team are eligible for Rookie of the Year. Those honors will be announced Tuesday, March 19.

All-WCHA First Team

All-WCHA Second Team

All-WCHA Third Team

WCHA All-Rookie Team