It’s been a rewarding – and “awarding” – week for DU’s hockey team.

First, the Pioneers climbed to No. 6 in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls.

They’re tied with Yale for sixth in the PairWise Rankings, which if that holds could set them up to be a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve played three of the teams ahead of them (splitting four games with No. 1 North Dakota, being swept by No. 3 St. Cloud State and losing at No. 5 Boston College).

Next, freshman center Dylan Gambrell, DU’s leading scorer with 42 points in 32 games, was selected to the NCHC’s All-Rookie team.

Third, sophomore wing Danton Heinen (37 points) and junior defenseman Will Butcher (27 points) were first-team All-NCHC picks. Heinen was an All-Rookie team pick and second-team All-NCHC pick last season. This is the first time Butcher, a Colorado Avalanche draft pick, has been honored by the NCHC.

Junior forward Trevor Moore (39 points) was an Honorable Mention pick. Moore was a first-time choice last season.

In addition, several Pioneers are finalists for NCHC individual awards:

• Heinen is one of three for Player of the Year candidates, along with St. Cloud defenseman Ethan Prow and North Dakota forward Drake Caggiula.
• Coach Jim Montgomery is up for the Herb Brooks Coach of the Year, along with North Dakota’s Brad Berry and St. Cloud State’s Bob Motzko.
• Senior Gabe Levin and St. Cloud’s Kalle Kossila, the conference’s leading scorer, are the finalists for Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
• Gambrell is one of three forwards, along with North Dakota’s Brock Boeser and Miami’s Jack Roslovic, up for Rookie of the Year.
• Butcher is one of four finalists for Defenseman of the Year, along with Prow, Minnesota-Duluth’s Andy Welinski and North Dakota’s Troy Stecher. Butcher also is in the mix for Offensive Defenseman of the Year with Prow and Stecher.
• Senior Quinten Shore is one of three finalists for Defensive Forward of the Year, along with Kossila and Miami’s Sean Kuraly.
• Heinen and sophomore goaltender Tanner Jaillet are among four finalists for the Three Stars Award, joining Boeser and St. Cloud goalie Charlie Lindgren.