Gophers' Schmidt named second-team All-American

Published Apr. 12, 2013 7:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

MINNEAPOLIS -- Former University of Minnesota defenseman Nate Schmidt has been named a 2012-13 CCM Hockey second-team All-American, as voted by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Schmidt led all WCHA defensemen in scoring this season. The Minnesota senior is a two-time all-WCHA defenseman and was a first-team honoree this season. He is tied for third among all NCAA defensemen with 32 points as a senior, including a career-high nine goals. Schmidt currently leads all national defensemen with 19 power-play points this season. The junior finished the year with a plus-15 rating as Minnesota led the WCHA and finished third nationally in scoring defense.

In 96 career games at Minnesota, Schmidt tallied 74 points and 12 goals. In his final two seasons with the program, Schmidt and the Gophers won back-to-back MacNaughton Cups and made two trips to the NCAA tournament -- including the team's run to the Frozen Four in 2011-12.

Schmidt signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals last week and has two assists in two games with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.