NAHL Alumni Update
Former Lone Star Brahmas goalie Mitchell Gibson brought home Goalie of the Week honors in the ECAC.
Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week: Will Gavin, F, Air Force (Springfield Jr. Blues) - Air Force sophomore Will Gavin registered four points on the weekend to lead the Falcons to a sweep at Mercyhurst and extend their winning streak to four games. The Durham, Conn., native potted two goals, including the game-winner in a 5-2 victory in game one against the Lakers. In the series finale on Saturday, Gavin tallied one goal and one assist as Air Force completed the sweep with a 5-3 win. Gavin leads the team with 10 goals on the season and has recorded points in four straight games (3g-4a/7 pts). This is his second Atlantic Hockey weekly honor of the season.
Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week: Shane Ott, F, Niagara (Janesville Jets) - Niagara forward Shane Ott had a strong week for Niagara, notching two helpers in the Purple Eagles’ win over RIT on Friday, including one on the game-winner in the 5-3 victory, and registering goal and an assist in their overtime loss on Saturday. The Centennial, Colo., native finished the weekend with four shots on goal and seven faceoff wins. This is Ott’s first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.
B1G First Star: Jakub Dobes, G, Ohio State (Topeka Pilots) - Backstopped the Buckeyes to a road sweep of Michigan State and into a tie for first place in the standings. He stopped 71-of-74 shots on the weekend for a 1.50 goals-against average and .959 save percentage. He also registered an assist in Friday's victory and now has 30 or more saves in each of his last six games.
ECAC Goalie of the Week: Mitchell Gibson, Harvard (Lone Star Brahmas) - Gibson (Jr. - Phoenixville, Pa.) was outstanding in his lone start this week, sending aside 30 of 31 shots in Harvard’s league win over St. Lawrence. It was his third 30-plus save performance of the year, and eighth time (in 12 decisions) he’s allowed two goals or less. Gibson now ranks third in ECAC Hockey in GAA (2.15), and fourth in winning percentage (.583).
NCHC Goalie of the Week: Brandon Bussi, Wester Michigan (Amarillo/New Jersey) - Bussi was stellar in net to backstop Western Michigan to a sweep of North Dakota, allowing only one goal all weekend. In Friday’s 4-1 win, he made 34 saves, including seven short-handed, to kill off all three UND power plays. The next night, Bussi made 24 more stops for his third shutout of the season and his career, again helping kill off all three North Dakota man advantages. He earned First Star of the Game in Saturday’s 2-0 victory. On the weekend, Bussi compiled 58 saves on 59 shots for a .983 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average. He also helped kill off all six UND power plays in the series. Bussi improved to 16-5-0 in 21 starts this season and carries a .923 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA on the year, the latter two of which both rank in the top 17 nationally.
NCHC Rookie of the Week: Max Sasson, F, Western Michigan (Brookings Blizzard) - Sasson had three points in the sweep of then-No. 9/10 North Dakota to extend his point streak to three games. In Friday’s 4-1 win he had the primary assist on WMU’s opening goal, dropping a no-look pass to Ronnie Attard on the power play. Sasson then helped seal the win with another primary assist on the power play on WMU’s fourth goal. In Saturday’s 2-0 shutout, he netted the game-winning goal with 46.1 seconds left in the first period, intercepting a pass for a short-handed breakaway goal, his first career short-handed tally. It was the only non-empty-net goal of the game and earned him Second Star of the Game. Sasson ended the series with a goal, two assists, four shots on goal (all on Saturday) and a +2 plus/minus. It was also his first career game-winning goal. On the season, he now has four goals and eight points in 21 games.
