University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

The CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be chosen from among the group of nominees with the winner announced at the 2010 CCHA Awards, presented by RBC Financial Group on Thursday, March 18.

A business administration major, the Three Hills, Alberta native has a near perfect 3.98 out of 4.00 grade-point average. Knelsen has appeared in all 36 games this season for the Blue and Gold and is second in scoring with a career-high 40 points.

In addition to his offensive prowess and two-way play on the ice, the fourth-year Nanook has duly applied himself in an unwavering fashion in the classroom: a quality that has not gone unnoticed by his coaches, professors and peers.

He is one of ten finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award and one of seven finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award. He is also a candidate for the 2010 Joel Weigert Award, which recognizes the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Outstanding Graduating Senior Man.

The complete list of 2009-10 CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nominees includes:

The faculty athletic representative at each school, in consultation with the head coach, selected the institution's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Each school's Scholar-Athlete of the Year serves as the school's nominee for CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Nominees must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 through the fall term of the selection year to receive the school's Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. The CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year is selected by the 12 faculty representatives. Voting is based on a system that awards five points for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote.

The 2010 CCHA Awards will be held on Thursday, March 18 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.  The event is open to the public and  tickets are $15.  The evening begins with a social hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling the CCHA office at (248) 888-0600.