Middendorf, Nienhuis Earn Academic All-District Honors

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State hockey standouts Nash Nienhuis (Sarnia, Ontario) and Erik Middendorf (Scottsdale, Ariz.) have been named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections, as announced by the organization on Tuesday, May 23. Middendorf Nienhuis

The pair are the first CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District selections for Michigan State since Austin Kamer in 2021. The two advance onto the national ballot, and are looking to add their names to the list of eight former Spartan hockey players (12 selections) who have earned Academic All-America honors since 1982. MSU boasts four two-time Academic All-America selections (Ron Scott 1982, 1983), Don McSween (1986, 1987), Walt Bartels (1990, 1991) and Jeff Lerg (2008, 2009; Academic All-America of the Year in 2009). Kelly Miller (1985), Mike Gilmore (1992), Tyler Harlton (1998) and Kamer are MSU's other selections.

The Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the ice and in the classroom. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required for nomination, and the student-athlete must be a starter or significant contributor to the team, having participated in at least 50% of his team's contests.

Middendorf, who began his collegiate career at Colorado College, is a two-year letterman at Michigan State and earned his degree in psychology in May. The Academic All-Big Ten selection with a 3.568 cumulative GPA played in 70 career games at Michigan State, and contributed 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points, with six power-play markers and seven game-winners. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Middendorf signed a standard contract with the Adirondack Thunder (the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets), where he played in 11 regular-season games with a goal, two assists, and was a +7.

Nienhuis is a three-year letterman at Michigan State and returns to the roster as a senior for the 2023-24 campaign. The alternate captain is a two-tie Academic All-Big Ten and Distinguished Scholar and boasts a 3.722 GPA as an advertising management major. In his junior season, he was the recipient of both the Spartan Fitness Award and the newly-formed Dave Carrier Award, which was created in honor of the Spartans' longtime athletic trainer and acknowledges the "comeback player" who overcame injury or adversity throughout the season. He posted a 4-15-19 scoring line (career bests in all three categories) and through 90 career games, he has five goals and 29 assists for 34 points.

Players Mentioned

Erik Middendorf

Nash Nienhuis

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