WCHA Release
EDINA, Minn. – On Thursday, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) announced that senior forward Tyler Morley was named to the All-WCHA First Team for the second consecutive season. Furthermore, 15 of Alaska's 18 returners were named to the WCHA All-Academic team, including nine repeat honorees.
T. Morley is the only Nanook to represent the University of Alaska Fairbanks on the All-WCHA teams this season, as he led the Nanooks offense consistently throughout the season, despite missing the whole month of February due to injury. The captain from Burnaby, British Columbia has tallied 28 points in 27 games played this season, including 16 goals and 12 assists. T. Morley leads the WCHA in goals per games played (0.59), points per games played (1.04) and shots on goal per games played (3.85). The Hobey Baker Award Nominee's 16 goals this season ranks him second in the WCHA, despite playing six games less than league leader Alex Petan (MTU), who netted only one more goal than him (17). In addition, T. Morley leads the Nooks in all major scoring categories, including points (28), goals (16), G/GP (0.59), P/GP (1.04), PPG (4), PPP (10), plus/minus (+7), SOG (104), SOG/GP (3.85), G/SOG (.154) and face-offs won (314).
"Being named All-WCHA First Team is a great honor for Tyler and the Nanook Hockey program. He has had a very good season and this recognition is well-deserved," head coach Dallas Ferguson said of the senior forward. "He is very talented player that has the ability to impact every shift. Tyler's preparation and competitiveness makes him an elite player and as all great players do, he makes players around him better."
Earlier this week, T. Morley was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Nanooks to sweep in-state rival Alaska-Anchorage to earn their fourth straight Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup title and the final WCHA Quarterfinal Playoff position. T. Morley had a four-point weekend (2G, 2A) against UAA, including a three-point game on Saturday (Mar. 5).
Off the ice, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team also had an impressive showing in the classroom, naming 15 players to the 2015-16 WCHA All-Academic team. To be named to the WCHA All-Academic team, individuals must have completed at least one year of residency at his present institution prior to the current academic year, have a grade point average of at least 3.00 (4.00 scale) for the previous two semesters or three quarters, and are eligible to qualify if their overall GPA is at least 3.00 for all terms at the present institution.
Alaska Nanooks named to the 2015-16 WCHA All-Academic Team:
(*Two-time  honoree, **Three-time honoree)
Seniors
Josh Atkinson** (Spruce Grove, Alberta/Accounting)
Alec Hajdukovich** (Fairbanks, Alaska/Business Administration)
Nolan Huysmans (Ponoka, Alberta/Accounting)
John Keeney** (Twin Peaks, California/MBA)
Tyler Morley** (Burnaby, British Columbia/Finance)
JD Peterson** (Orange, California/Communication)
Juniors
Marcus Basara* (Point Moody, British Columbia/Business Administration)
Josh Erickson* (Roseau, Minnesota/Communication)
Davis Jones (St. Alberta, Alberta/Business Administration)
Brandon Morley (Burnaby, British Columbia/Communication)
Sophomores
Zach Frye (Spokane, Washington/Business Administration)
Nick Hinz (Oakdale, Minnesota/Business Administration)
Peter Krieger (Oakdale, Minnesota/Justice)
Tayler Munson (Fairbanks, Alaska/General Studies)
Justin Woods (Fairbanks, Alaska/Business Administration)
A total of 140 student-athletes, representing all 10 WCHA member institutions earned the annual distinction for academic excellence. Of the 140, two Alaska Nanooks were named WCHA Scholar Athletes this year by having a cumulative 3.5 GPA or 3.5 GPA in the previous two semesters at their member institution. Alaska's selections were senior forward Nolan Huysmans (three-time honoree) and sophomore defenseman Zach Frye (first-time honoree.)
"We are proud of the success our student-athletes achieve in the classroom," Ferguson said of his All-Academic Team selections. "We are fortunate to have great support on our campus from the faculty to the support staff. I think it's great that the WCHA recognizes these student-athletes for their success in the classroom."
Below is the full list individual awards and first, second and third team All-WCHA selections from the conference release:
2015-16 WCHA Awards
Player of the Year: Alex Petan, MTU
Defensive Player of the Year: Casey Nelson, MSU
Rookie of the Year: Corey Mackin, FSU
Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year: Jamie Phillips, MTU
Coach of the Year: Mel Pearson, MTU
Scoring Champion: Alex Petan, MTU
Goaltending Champion: Cole Huggins, MSU
2015-16 All-WCHA First Team
Forwards:
Alex Petan, MTU
Teddy Blueger, MSU
Tyler Morley, Alaska
Defensemen:
Casey Nelson, MSU
Mark Friedman, BGSU
Goaltender:
Chris Nell, BGSU
2015-16 All-WCHA Second Team
Forwards:
Gerald Mayhew, FSU
Darren Nowick, NMU
Dominik Shine, NMU
Defensemen:
Matt Roy, MTU
Sean Walker, BGSU
Goaltender:
Jamie Phillips, MTU
2015-16 All-WCHA Third Team
Forwards:
Mark Cooper, BGSU
Bryce Gervais, MSU
Malcolm Gould, MTU & Tyler Heinonen, MTU
Defensemen:
Brandon Anselmini, FSU
Shane Hanna, MTU
Goaltender:
Gordon Defiel, LSSU
2015-16 WCHA All-Rookie Team
Forwards:
Corey Mackin, FSU
Max Coatta, MSU
Jake Lucchini, MTU
Defensemen:
Wyatt Ege, UAA
Daniel Brickley, MSU
Goaltender:
Atte Tolvanen, NMU
The Alaska Nanooks have hit the road to take on Michigan Tech in the opening round of the WCHA Playoffs Mar. 11-12 at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena, with Sunday, Mar. 13 acting as the deciding game three if necessary. Puck drop is slated for 3:07pm AST on all three nights. For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey page on Facebook.
