COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After unveiling its all-conference and all-rookie teams on Monday, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has announced its first two individual award winners for the 2020-21 season on Tuesday. Miami freshman goaltender Ludvig Persson earned the NCHC's Three Stars Award. Persson becomes the first RedHawk to win the Three Stars Award, while he's the third goaltender and third freshman to claim the honor.

Persson (Hindas, Sweden) was named Second-Team All-NCHC and to the NCHC All-Rookie Team on Monday. The Swede finished the season with 34 'three stars' points and was selected First Star of the Game five times in his 17 starts, backstopping Miami to all five of its wins in 2020-21. Persson led all NCHC goalies with a .930 save percentage this season and finished third with a 2.40 goals-against average. His two shutouts tied for second in the conference. Persson was a three-time NCHC Goalie of the Week and the NCHC's December Goaltender of the Month.

North Dakota sophomore forward Shane Pinto, a First-Team All-NCHC selection this year, was the runner-up for the NCHC's Three Stars Award. He was also First Star of the Game five times in his 23 games played and totaled 33 'three stars' points, one less than Persson.

The Three Stars Award goes to the player who accumulates the most 'three stars of the game' points during conference play only. Five points are awarded for a first star, three points for a second star and one for a third star of the game, with first stars serving as a tiebreaker, if needed.

On Wednesday, the winners of the NCHC's five individual positional playing awards will be announced, while Thursday's awards announcement will include the Herb Brooks Coach of the Year, NCHC Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and the NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.

The 2020-21 Miami hockey season is proudly sponsored by Kroger and Cintas.