Beniers, Johnson, Power honoured in B1G awards

With the NCAA’s Big Ten handing out their annual individual awards, University of Michigan freshman Owen Power has been named to both the second All-Big Ten and the All-Freshman teams.

Teammates Matthew Beniers and Kent Johnson joined Power on the All-Freshman team and earned honourable mentions for the All-Big Ten teams. All three players are eligible for the upcoming 2021 NHL Draft and all look like they could be top-10 selections.

Power, who was also a finalist for Freshman of the Year, has collected three goals and 13 assists for 16 points through 26 games, leading all rookie defenders in the league. His total is also good for third among all Big Ten defenders, an impressive feat for the rearguard. He was a unanimous decision for the All-Freshman team. In FCHockey’s Winter rankings, Power came in at No. 3 overall and is in strong contention for the first-overall spot.

Beniers has 10 goals, 14 assists, and 24 points in 15 games in his NCAA rookie year. The centerman is fourth in the nation in rookie points per game with 1.00, thanks to six multi-point games, including a hat-trick on February 26 and a four-point night on March 6. Beniers is FCHockey’s No. 7-ranked prospect.

Johnson is second on the Michigan team in points, with nine goals, 18 assists, and 27 points in 26 games, highlighted by a five-point night on January 8. His 1.04 points per game are third in the nation among rookies. Johnson is neck-and-neck with Beniers on FCHockey’s rankings, coming in at No. 8.

The Michigan Wolverines were recently eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament by Minnesota in the semifinals and are waiting to hear the NCAA tournament selections, announced on March 21.