Tucker Poolman is the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year.

The East Grand Forks product and UND recruit earned the honor that annually goes to the top U.S. citizen playing junior hockey in the United States.

Poolman had a great year for the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, scoring 15 goals and 41 points. His 15 goals led the league among defensemen.

Poolman, a fifth-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, is expected to step into UND’s lineup this fall and be a strong player on a strong d-corps for UND.

UND has had three previous winners of the award: Chris Fournier in 2001, Karl Goehring in 1997 and Jason Blake in 1994.

The last winner from Greater Grand Forks was Red River’s Ryan Potulny in 2003.

Past USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year winners

2013-14 — Tucker Poolman, Omaha (UND)

2012-13 — Taylor Cammarata, Waterloo (Minnesota)

2011-12 — Andrew Welinski, Green Bay (Duluth)

2010-11 — Blake Coleman, Indiana (Miami)

2009-10 — Matt White, Omaha (Omaha)

2008-09 — Andrew Miller, Chicago (Yale)

2007-08 — Jack Connolly, Sioux Falls (Duluth)

2006-07 — Jeff Petry, Des Moines (Michigan State)

2005-06 — Trevor Lewis, Des Moines

2004-05 — Jeff Lerg, Omaha (Michigan State)

2003-04 — Joe Pavelski, Waterloo (Wisconsin)

2002-03 — Ryan Potulny, Lincoln (Minnesota)