Alaska Nanooks men’s hockey forward, and former Drumheller Dragon Dion Knelsen was selected to the ESPN Magazine's 'Academic All-America At-Large Men’s First Team' announced Tuesday, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Knelsen, who graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks last month with a degree in Business Administration, maintained a 3.98 grade point average in his studies and was selected to the Chancellor’s List every semester of his four-year career.
He signed a one-year contract to play professional hockey next season for the Sparta Warriors of Sarpsborgo, Norway, and the Norwegian Elite League.
The leading scorer for the Nanooks this season with 19 goals and 24 assists, Knelsen led the Blue and Gold to an 18-12-9 record and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. His four-year, career scoring line of 45 goals, 75 assists and 120 points rank 17th on Alaska’s all-time scoring list.
His senior campaign was capped off with a heap of athletic and academic awards including: CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CCHA Humanitarian of the Year, CCHA All-Conference Team Honourable Mention, Lowe’s Senior CLASS First-Team All-American, UAF Joel Weigert Outstanding Graduating Senior Man, all-tournament team and MVP honours at the Kendall Classic and Brice Alaska Goal Rush, respectively, and was one of just seven finalists for the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award.
He is the fifth Nanook to earn the prestigious distinction, joining Trevor Hyatt (Men’s At-Large, 2009), Marius Korthauer (Men’s At-Large, 2008), Vahur Teppan (Men’s At-Large, 2008) and Jenny (Lin) Benson (Women’s Basketball, 1989).
