Brock Boeser named to NHL All-Star Game

In his last trip to Amalie Arena, Brock Boeser had a goal and four points in the NCAA national championship game, leading UND to its eighth title.

When he goes back in a couple of weeks, it will be as an NHL All-Star.

Boeser was named to the NHL All-Star Game on Wednesday afternoon, the lone representative from the Vancouver Canucks and the only rookie to be selected to the game. He is the first Canucks rookie to make the All-Star Game since Dale Tallon in 1970-71, the team's inaugural season.

"It's definitely a dream come true," Boeser said. "Just growing up and watching it, it's something you dream about as a kid. I'm really excited and it's a pretty cool honor to be able to play with the NHL All-Stars

"There are a lot of guys that could be in the NHL All-Star Game that maybe aren't this year, so it's definitely a big honor."

This will be Boeser's first game in Amalie Arena since the 2016 national championship.

Boeser was one of the NHL's biggest stories in the first half of the season. He's racked up 22 goals in 40 games, ranking fifth in the NHL.

Boeser leads the Canucks in both goals and points (40). Nobody else on the team has more than 29.

Boeser is UND's lone All-Star representative.

"Playing in the game with all these guys, it's going to be really cool," Boeser said. "Just to build some friendships will be fun, too. I don't think I know many guys, maybe one or two, but it will be fun to build some new friendships."

As a rookie at UND, Boeser racked up 60 points in leading the Fighting Hawks to the national championship. Last season, he was hampered by a wrist injury and had 16 goals and 34 points.

He signed with Vancouver after UND lost to Boston University in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

"Obviously, it's very impressive through the short body of work he's had at the NHL level, but when you look at it, it's what you've built up on a consistent basis and he's consistently scored and been an impact player in those games," UND coach Brad Berry said. "It's a testament to him, his hard work and having success on a daily basis.

"Knowing him, this isn't going to stop him from working to get better," Berry said. "Hopefully it's just another accolade and he keeps moving in the right direction."