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Phoenix native, Jr. Coyotes grad Knies named Big Ten Player of Year, Hobey Baker Award finalist

 

The Big Ten announced last week that Minnesota sophomore forward Matthew Knies is the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Knies was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team and is a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey’s top player.

The Phoenix native is the second consecutive player to earn B1G Player of the Year honors and fourth all-time for the Maroon and Gold, the most of any team in the conference. Knies continues to lead the NCAA with seven game-winning goals, all of which have been scored against teams ranked in the top 15 of the national polls, including three in overtime.

Knies currently ranks sixth nationally, totaling 21 goals and has scored in 19 of 35 games played, helping the team to a record of 17-2-0 when he hits the back of the net.

Thanks to his unique blend of size, strength, and speed, Knies has totaled 17 points with a plus-16 rating over the last 12 games. He also earned the second All-B1G team honor of his two-year career after landing on the second team a season ago.

Minnesota is the top seed for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, which starts Thursday.

A Toronto Maple Leafs prospect drafted in the second round (57th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Knies played for the Jr. Coyotes during his youth hockey days.

Photo/Matt Krohn

(March 21, 2023)

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