BISMARCK, ND – Dynamic University of Mary men's hockey defenseman Johnny Witzke is the 2022-23 North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Non-School Athlete of the Year.
 
A three-time American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division II All-Athlete team selection, Witzke is the third straight UMary hockey player to earn NDAPSSA Athlete of the Year honors, joining Zach Garrett (2021) and Kyle Hayden (2022).
 
Honored as the 2023 ACHA M2 West Region Player of the Year, Witzke led top-ranked UMary to within a goal of the national tournament semifinals this spring after winning national titles in 2021 and 2022.
 
The 2-way defenseman was key in the Marauders limiting their opponents to only 78 goals in 48 games. Offensively the Bismarck, ND, native provided an offensive spark with his ability to transition from defense to offense and carry the puck the length of the ice. Witzke scored a career-high 19 goals and delivered 32 assists for 51 points in 44 games, an average of 1.16 points/game. He finished third on the Marauders in both goals and assists and is second in points.
 
Witzke helped the Marauders finish their final ACHA M2 season with a dominant record of 38-7-2-1 (W-L-OTL-T) overall, including a mark of 29-4-1-1 against ACHA M2 opponents. Witzke returns for the 2023-24 to assist UMary in the upward move to ACHA Men's Division 1.
 
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