On March 21, at the annual NCHC award dinner in St. Paul, Minnesota, Jackson Blake was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and unanimously selected to the NCHC First All-Conference team.  

Blake won rookie of the year last season and has continued to find success in his sophomore season. This season, Blake has 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points. The UND forward now holds the NCHC record for most conference scoring, breaking the record previously held by Brock Boeser and Bobby Brink. Blake is just one point shy of 100 career points at UND.  

He follows in the legacy of Blakes at UND, after his father Jason, who was also incredibly successful as a hockey player at UND.  

Blake gave his father credit for his decision to come to UND.  

“My dad has had a huge part in where I am today,” Blake said. “He’s probably the reason I went to North Dakota.”  

Coach Brad Berry is glad to have a player like Blake on his team, praising his leadership abilities and talent.  

“When you look at a guy that sets records offensively, you look at a kind of a one-dimensional player sometimes. I do not see that in him,” Berry said. “He is a guy that competes hard every game and every practice.” 

Blake attributes his many accolades to UND’s and Berry’s teams’ cultures.  

“Thanks for those boys over there, the coaching staff,” Blake said. “We just push each other every single day. Every day is a battle, no matter if it is practice or games.”  

It was also announced on Wednesday, March 20, that Blake is a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, in addition to his NCHC accolades.  

Maeve Hushman is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].