{"id":105534,"date":"2020-03-20T12:00:08","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T17:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=105534"},"modified":"2020-08-24T10:32:57","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T15:32:57","slug":"with-45-point-output-north-dakotas-kawaguchi-garners-uscho-player-of-the-year-accolades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2020\/03\/20\/with-45-point-output-north-dakotas-kawaguchi-garners-uscho-player-of-the-year-accolades\/","title":{"rendered":"After 45-point output, North Dakota’s Kawaguchi garners USCHO Player of the Year accolades"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jordan<\/a>
After notching 26 points in 37 games last season, North Dakota’s Jordan Kawaguchi upped that total in 2019-20, going for 45 points over 33 games to lead the Fighting Hawks (photo: Bradley K. Olson).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coming off back-to-back seasons of not qualifying for the NCAA tournament, there were a lot of questions facing North Dakota this season.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest revolved around offense. Who was going to score?<\/p>\n

Last season, North Dakota’s offense was ranked 41st nationally, averaging just 2.51 goals per game. Their leading returning scorer was Jordan Kawaguchi, who as a sophomore had 26 points in 37 games.<\/p>\n

However, as a junior, Kawaguchi, the USCHO Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season, blossomed, spearheading a remarkable turnaround for the Fighting Hawks. In 33 games, he scored 45 points, a 1.36 points per game average, often with highlight-reel goals like one he scored against Alabama Huntsville.<\/p>\n

\n

1ST TEAM ALL-NCHC
Jordan Kawaguchi has vaulted himself squarely in the middle of Hobey Baker Award consideration for the top player in NCAA hockey after his breakout junior season. He currently sits 2nd in the NCAA in points (45) and primary assists (23).
#UNDproud<\/a> #KawaHobey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XBinl2qCy3<\/a><\/p>\n

— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 11, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n