Makar Named CHN Player of the Year

CHN Staff Report

PRINCETON, N.J.  College Hockey News has selected Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar as the 2018-19 Player of the Year.

He is the first-ever UMass player to win the honor and the third consecutive player from Hockey East, following Adam Gaudette and Zach Aston-Reese of Northeastern. Makar is only the second defenseman to win the award; Boston University's Matt Gilroy was the first in 2009.

On Thursday, Makar was named to the Hobey Hat Trick and is the favorite to win the award.

Makar led the Minutemen to their first-ever Hockey East regular-season championship in 2018-19 on top of the program's first Frozen Four. UMass will play Denver next Thursday in a national semifinal in Buffalo.

Makar's 48 points (16 goals and 32 assists) tie with him for first in defenseman scoring. His 16 goals are second in the country among blue-liners.

"He's a special, unique, generational player at this level," UMass coach Greg Carvel said. "To me, he's the best player at this level by 10 miles. It's not even close."

Makar, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, committed to UMass under the previous regime. The coaching change, which led to Carvel's hiring after the 2016-17 season, could've reopened Makar's recruitment. His decision to reaffirm his future at UMass has changed the program and has it two wins from a national championship.

"He could have gone anywhere, and he decided to come here and take on the challenge of helping to rebuild the hockey program and put it on the map," Carvel said. "He's done that."

Previous CHN POTY winners

2018 Adam Gaudette, F, Northeastern

2017 Zach Aston-Reese, F, Northeastern

2016 Kyle Connor, F, Michigan

2015 Jack Eichel, F, Boston University

2014 Johnny Gaudreau, F, Boston College

2013 Danny Kristo, F, North Dakota

2012 Austin Smith, F, Colgate

2011 Matt Frattin, F, North Dakota

2010 Marc Cheverie, G, Denver

2009 Matt Gilroy, D, Boston University

2008 Kevin Porter, F, Michigan

2007 T.J. Hensick, F, Michigan

2006 Ryan Potulny, F, Minnesota