hunder Bay Kings alumnus Nolan Nicholas has earned a tremendous honour as it was announced that he had been selected as the 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award winner in NCAA Division I men’s hockey in the United States.
The award, which was chosen by a nationwide vote of D-I coaches, hockey media and fans, goes annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men’s hockey.
Nicholas wrapped up his collegiate career at the University of Alaska Anchorage and becomes the first person from the school to garner the accolades.
Previously he was one of 10 finalists for the accolades and among the initial 20 student-athlete nominees.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, this award focuses on the total student-athlete and those who use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
To be eligible for this distinguished honour, a student-athlete must be a NCAA Division I senior and boast notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.
Serving as captain of the Seawolves in his senior year, some of his accomplishments during his NCAA tenure were collecting the UAA Rookie of the Year Award, being named an assistant captain for both his sophomore and junior seasons while earning multiple spots on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team.
He was also named a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American in in 2018-19.
Nicholas boasted an impressive 3.84 cumulative grade-point-average while majoring in criminal justice major, with a minor in legal studies, despite enduring long road trips that spanned thousands of miles from Alaska to various locales across the U.S. while competing in each of his club’s games during the most recent campaign.
While excelling in the classroom and competing in practices and games also served on his school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, was an representative for the Athletics Expedited Review Committee and volunteered with UAA hockey events and other youth initiatives to help educate hockey fans throughout Anchorage.
