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The Daily Skate: Jordan Kawaguchi is UND's first winner of the Lowe's Senior Class Award

Shane Pinto to participate in Hobey Baker Award ceremony while quarantined in Ottawa.

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UND hockey captain Jordan Kawaguchi evades Colorado College defenseman Connor Mayer in the first period of Sunday's NCHC matchup at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

Jordan Kawaguchi signed with the Dallas Stars a little more than a week ago.

He's already made his professional debut, scored his first pro goal, tallied his first pro assist and scored a shootout goal for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League.

Even so, he's still racking up awards for his storied college career.

Kawaguchi was named the Lowe's Senior Class Award winner Friday, becoming the first UND player to earn that honor. It has been handed out every year since 2007.

Grand Forks native Jacques Lamoureux of Air Force won it in 2011.

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Kawaguchi led UND in scoring for three consecutive seasons, becoming the first player in the program to do so since Greg Johnson (1990-93). He finished his four-year college career with 126 points in 136 games.

"For Jordan and what he's done for our program, it ties the bow on top of it all and encapsulates what he's done on the ice, off the ice, in the community and as a person," UND coach Brad Berry said. "That whole senior class has the same mentality and is now reaping the rewards for it with NHL contracts.

"Jordan led the way. He was pretty emphatic last year, after our season ended due to COVID, he was one of the first guys that said, 'Hey, I'm coming back and I want to be a part of it.' That emulates the character you need to win this award."

Kawaguchi served as UND's captain in 2020-21 and led the Fighting Hawks to the Penrose Cup as National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular-season champions and also helped the program to its first NCHC playoff title.

UND's season came to an end in a five overtime loss to Minnesota Duluth on March 27 in the NCAA regional final.

"I texted him today and told him I was super proud of him," Berry said. "He got back to me right away and said this award really means a lot to him. This accolade is near and dear to his heart."

Lowe's Senior Class Award winners Jordan Kawaguchi is UND's first to earn the honor
Year Winner
2021 Jordan Kawaguchi, North Dakota
2020 Nolan Nicholas, Alaska Anchorage
2019 Kyle Haak, Air Force
2018 Jake Evans, Notre Dame
2017 Brendan Harms, Bemidji State
2016 David Glen, Penn State
2015 Spiro Goulakos, Colgate
2014 Brock Higgs, RPI
2013 Cheyne Rocha, Army
2012 Jack Connolly, Minnesota Duluth
2011 Jacques Lamoureux, Air Force
2010 Colin Greening, Cornell
2009 Jeff Lerg, Michigan State
2008 Landis Stankievech, Princeton
2007 David Brown, Notre Dame
SOURCE: Grand Forks Herald

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Quarantined Pinto to participate in Hobey ceremony virtually

Shane Pinto is one of three finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which will be presented at 5 p.m.

Pinto, who signed with the Ottawa Senators last week, is currently in a mandatory quarantine in an Ottawa hotel room. He will participate in the ceremony virtually from his room.

The other finalists are Wisconsin's Cole Caufield, the expected winner, and Minnesota State-Mankato goaltender Dryden McKay.

Pinto, who will be out of quarantine Saturday, became the NCHC's first unanimous choice as the league's player of the year. He also won the NCHC's forward of the year and defensive forward of the year awards.

The sophomore from Franklin Square, N.Y., led UND with 15 goals and tallied 32 points in 28 games.

Caggiula to Buffalo

The 2016 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player is on the move.

The Buffalo Sabres claimed former UND forward Drake Caggiula off of waivers Friday.

Caggiula, who had been playing with the Arizona Coyotes, will head to Buffalo, which sits in last place in the East Division with 24 points.

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Caggiula had one goal and seven points in 27 games for the Coyotes this season.

Buffalo will be Caggiula's fourth NHL team since turning pro after the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four. Caggiula played two-and-a-half seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and a year and a half with the Chicago Blackhawks before joining the Coyotes.

Caggiula has played 249 NHL games, tallying 42 goals and 83 points.

Arizona State loading up on transfers

One team that has jumped deep into the transfer portal is Arizona State.

The Sun Devils, who had five transfers on their 2020-21 team, already have added four transfer commitments this spring.

They picked up a commitment from Notre Dame senior forward Colin Theisen on Friday. Theisen scored eight goals and tallied 14 points in 27 games last season for the Fighting Irish.

Arizona State also has added Bowling Green defenseman Tim Theocharidis, Boston College defenseman Tim Lovell and Michigan forward and captain Jack Becker, a Boston Bruins draft pick.

Arizona State's current transfers are forward Willie Knierim (Miami), forward Sean Dhooghe (Wisconsin), forward Chris Grando (Boston College), forward James Sanchez (Michigan) and defenseman Tanner Hickey (Alabama Huntsville).

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Omaha adds McManus

Omaha has added another forward in Minnesota senior Brannon McManus.

McManus, of Newport Beach, Calif., had nine goals and 25 points in 27 games for the Gophers last season. During his four years in Minnesota, McManus had 39 goals and 87 points in 136 games.

Latest transfer portal entries

Minnesota State-Mankato junior forward and 2018 Canadian Junior A Player of the Year Chris Van Os-Shaw (0-1--1), Lake Superior State junior forward Pierre-Luc (Pete) Veillette (13-14--27), Denver forward Hank Crone (5-4--9), Merrimack freshman defenseman Kevin Sadovski (0-0--0), Niagara junior forward Dylan Mills (0-1--1), Merrimack sophomore goalie James Corcoran (DNP).

Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald's circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year once. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.

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