Barriball one of 20 senior candidates for CLASS Award

The early season honors keep coming for Jay Barriball, the Gophers senior captain. After being named the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, Barriball was picked as one of 20 nominees for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in men's hockey.

It recognizes players for their skills on and off the ice.

Barriball, who received an extra season of eligibility based on medical hardship, has four goals and one assist in his first two games. He has a team-high 107 points. He played in only five games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Three other WCHA players are also among the finalists:

* Chay Genoway, North Dakota defenseman

* Matt Read, Bemidji State forward

* Kyle Ostrow, Denver forward

* Chase Polacek of Edina. He is a forward at RPI, Renselaer Polytechnical Institute. He and Genoway are on Inside College Hockey's first team preseason all-america team.

* Air Force forward Jacques Lamoureux, the older brother of twins Monique and Jocelyn Lamoureux. The twins played for the Gophers two seasons ago, for the U.S. team in the Olympics last season and now are on the North Dakota women's team.

* Last weekend the Gophers played against one non-WCHA candidate, UMass goalie Paul Dainton, and will play against another, forward Carl Hagelin of Michigan. The Wolverines play the Gophers at Mariucci Arena on Nov. 28.

The list of candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot.

Media, coaches and fans will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The winner will be announced during the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Frozen Four in April.