MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - Two UW-Eau Claire men's hockey players have been named 2011 All-Northern Collegiate Hockey Association selections while head coach Matt Loen was named the NCHA Coach of the Year, conference sports information director Brian Monahan announced today.

Named to the group of six forwards was Jordan Singer (So.-Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) while Bryce Wilcox (So.-Rochester, Minn./Century) was one of four picks for defensemen.

Singer leads the Blugolds with 29 points so far this season. He has both a team-high 13 goals and 16 assists. His point total also ranks second best in the conference. Singer is tied for first in the league with seven power-play goals, and he recorded one hat-trick earlier this season.

As a defenseman, Wilcox has the sixth best point total of anyone on the team, picking up six so far. Among defensemen in the NCHA, his 11 points ranks seventh best overall. He is part of a defense that has allowed 731 shots this season while the Blugolds have taken 824.

For the second year in a row, John Kearns (Sr.-Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) found his way to the honorable mention All-NCHA team. A captain, and also a defenseman, Kearns has five assists this season.

Loen guided the Blugolds to a 14-10-1 record through the regular season, with ten of those games coming against ranked opponents. The Blugolds posted an outstanding 6-3-1 record in those games. This is the first NCHA Coach of the Year award for Loen, but he earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors last season.