Six Division I men’s hockey players have been named Academic All-Americans by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), which released the 2017 Academic All-America Division I Men’s At-Large Team on Thursday.

Those honorees represent five schools and four Division I conferences:

• Michael Bitzer, Bemidji State (Moorhead, Minn./Lincoln-USHL)
• Brendan Harms, Bemidji State (Steinbach, Man./Fargo-USHL)
• Max French, Bentley (West Kelowna, B.C./West Kelowna-BCHL)
• Hampus Gustafsson, Merrimack (Ljungby, Sweden/Amarillo-NAHL)
• Kyle Haak, Air Force (Okemos, Mich./Aberdeen-NAHL)
• Mike Vecchione, Union (Saugus, Mass./Tri-City-USHL)

Two Bemidji State teammates – senior forward Harms and junior goaltender Bitzer – led the group as selections to the second team. Harms graduated with a perfect 4.00 grade-point average with a major in business administration; Bitzer carries a 3.81 GPA in exercise science.

CoSIDA Announcement

The other four were all named to the third team. French, a senior forward, was a first-team All-Atlantic Hockey selection while earning his master’s degree. Gustafsson, another senior forward who signed with the Washington Capitals after the season, finished with a 4.00 GPA while majoring in business.

Haak, a forward, was one of only four sophomores to be recognized (among 45 honorees). Vecchione was a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist and shared the national lead in scoring. He signed with the Philadelphia Flyers and made his NHL debut following his senior season.

The Academic All-America At-Large Teams recognize academic and athletic excellence across 12 men’s sports. Past honorees include current NCAA coaches Greg Carvel (St. Lawrence) and Brian Hills (Bowling Green). Several Academic All-Americans have gone on to play in the NHL, including Lee Stempniak (Dartmouth), Mike Johnson (Bowling Green) and Todd White (Clarkson).