When the league revealed its all-conference teams Tuesday, bennett schimek saw Jake Livanavage become just the second UND player to earn first-team all-National Collegiate Hockey Conference honors multiple times. The announcement landed as a confirmation of growth for a junior defenseman whose blend of offense and defense has drawn attention across the league.
Why did Jake Livanavage make first-team all-NCHC again?
Jake Livanavage’s repeat selection to the first team is grounded in measurable contributions. The junior defenseman has five goals and 25 points in 35 games this season, and he leads the Fighting Hawks in ice time. That combination of production and responsibility explains why he joined an exclusive group of multiple first-team picks from UND.
UND coach Dane Jackson offered a direct appraisal of Livanavage’s development: “When we recruited Jake, we had him slated as an offensive guy. He’s an elite skater, an elite puck-mover. I think his first year, we did have to protect him a little bit. We kind of watched our matchups with him. But he’s just grown. His skating is so good. He defends a little like Troy Stecher would. He beats guys to spots and even though he’s physically disadvantaged at times, he’s really smart and he knows how to keep body positioning on guys. He’s really grown in that part of his game to be a good defender. He penalty kills. He plays against other teams’ top lines. It’s pretty rare you see a guy who has so much offensive ability but really takes pride and is very good at defending as well. “
That endorsement underlines why Livanavage is also a finalist for both the NCHC’s Offensive Defenseman of the Year and Defensive Defenseman of the Year awards; the league will announce winners later in the week.
Bennett Schimek: Who else made the all-NCHC teams and what does it mean?
The first-team roster alongside Livanavage included goaltender Jan Špunar of UND — whose selection also made him the NCHC’s Goaltender of the Year — and forwards Max Plante of Minnesota Duluth, Tyson Gross of St. Cloud State, Cruz Lucius of Arizona State, and defenseman Eric Pohlkamp of Denver. The all-conference teams are chosen by votes from media members and the league’s head coaches, reflecting a mix of statistical output and peer recognition.
UND placed additional players on the conference teams: senior forward Ben Strinden and junior defenseman Abram Wiebe were named to the second team, while senior center Ellis Rickwood earned third-team honors. Strinden’s season totals are 15 goals and 33 points in 34 games overall, and he posted 11 goals and 26 points in 24 conference games, finishing three points shy of the NCHC scoring title. Wiebe recorded five goals and 27 points in 35 games, with 19 points in 24 conference contests. Rickwood, a transfer from Clarkson, leads UND in overall scoring with 34 points in 31 games and tallied 21 points in 21 conference games.
The league’s history gives perspective: only one player has been a three-time first-team pick, and several others have earned multiple selections. That context amplifies the significance of Livanavage’s repeat honor for the program and for the player himself.
For readers such as bennett schimek who followed the list closely, the announcement is both a snapshot of a season and a hinge toward postseason recognition. The selections tie individual performance to team roles — from Špunar’s goaltending distinction to Livanavage’s two-way responsibilities — and they map who figures to be talked about when awards are handed out later in the week.
The league’s all-conference roster, the coach’s assessment, and the statistics together form a clear narrative: Livanavage’s combination of ice time, scoring and defensive maturation earned him rare repeat first-team recognition, while UND’s presence across the teams shows depth. The list that bennett schimek saw upends a scoreboard of names into a ledger of development — and it leaves open the final chapter when award winners are named.
