The CSCHL boasts four of the nation’s top-nine teams and five of the top 12, making it top to bottom one of the best conferences in the country.

But the parity that makes the conference so strong was not on display when 2012-13 season awards were handed out.

Illinois, crowned the conference regular-season champions, accounts for half of the league’s first-team all-league squad, as well as the CSCHL Rookie of the Year John Olen.

“It says a lot about our guys for the seasons they had as individuals,” head coach Nick Fabbrini said.

Olen led the Illini (25-11-2) in points (47), goals (25) and power-play goals (11) in his first season in Champaign. In addition to Rookie of the Year honors, Olen was named to the first-team all-league team and to the all-rookie team.

“He should have been the MVP,” Fabbrini said of his freshman. “He’s the best player on the first-place team. I guess I don’t understand how he’s not MVP.”

Despite leading the team in points, Olen had no idea that he was in contention for the award until Fabbrini texted him when it was announced last Wednesday.

“I knew I was having a pretty decent year, but I had no idea I was up for the award,” Olen said.

After playing junior hockey for two years, Olen surprised himself with his 2012-13 campaign.

“I knew I would come in and make an impact,” he said. “The impact we made, winning the league, exceeded my own expectations.”

Joining Olen on the all-league team is junior goaltender Nick Clarke and senior defenseman Mike Evans. Clarke posted a 21-9-2 record in net this season with a 2.83 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. He also posted two complete shutouts during the season: Nov. 2 against Ohio and Jan. 19 against Iowa State. 

The junior was on the second-team all-league team last season, behind Robert Morris netminder Andy DiCristofaro, but the pair flipped places this season.

Evans was named to the all-defensive team as well. Even though he’s a defenseman, the senior finished fifth on the squad in points with 28, including 20 assists. Evans was one of just four Illinois players to play in all 38 contests during the season.

“Evans is one of the best defenders in the country,” Fabbrini said. “He should definitely get consideration for all-American.”

Evans, however, was quick to deflect credit to his season-long defensive partner Anthony Carlsen. The duo was a mainstay on a defensive unit that was inconsistent for much of the year.

“It’s always nice to prove people wrong when there’s doubt,” Evans said. “Our defensive core has dealt with a lot of adversity this year, so it’s nice to be recognized with how strong we really are.”

While the team was well-represented, a case could be made that the Illini were snubbed in some areas. Fabbrini thought Olen had a chance to win MVP, but the head coach could have made a case for some hardware of his own. 

The first-year coach led Illinois to its first regular-season championship since 2008 and held a 2-0 head-to-head record against CSCHL Coach of the Year Chico Adrahtas from Robert Morris.

“It would have been nice to win it,” Fabbrini said. “But (Adrahtas) has done a great job turning that program around.”

While the hardware is something to remember the season, Fabbrini said the recognition isn’t the ultimate prize that the Illini are chasing.

“I think any guy in there would trade an all-league for a national championship any day of the week.”

Stephen can be reached at [email protected] and @steve_bourbon.