OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Twenty NCAA men’s ice hockey student-athletes who excel both on and off the ice were selected as candidates Thursday for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate hockey. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. 

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. 

Of the 20 candidates, 12 have grade point averages of 3.5 or higher. There are two American Hockey Coaches Association All-Americans from last season.

The 20 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Men’s Frozen Final Four® in April.