NAHL Alumni Update
Former NAHL and Austin Bruins defenseman Travis Shoudy was named the CCHA Defenseman of the Month.
ECAC Goalie of the Month: Arthur Smith, Princeton (Lone Star Brahmas) - Arthur Smith (Fr., Princeton) earns the title of MAC Goaltending Goaltender of the Month with a stellar 3-0-1 record in December, including a road shutout at Sacred Heart. Smith made a total of 86 saves in four games, averaging 21.5 saves per game. The first-year goaltender boasts a .935 save percentage, ranking third among all freshmen and 18th among all goalies nationally. His 1.76 goals-against average stands as the second-best among NCAA freshmen.
Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Month: Nicholas Grabko, Bentley (Minot Minotauros) - Bentley senior Nicholas Grabko backstopped the Falcons to a pair of victories in his two December appearances. The Channahon, Ill., native led Atlantic Hockey in goals-against average (1.47) and save percentage (.941) for the month, stopping 48-of-51 shots in 122:00 minutes of action. He made 22 saves in a 3-0 win over Air Force on Dec. 2 and 26 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory over Union on Dec. 30. The senior currently ranks No. 8 nationally in GAA at 2.12 and 17th in save percentage at .917. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey monthly honor.
Atlantic Hockey Defenseman of the Month: Mac Gadowsky, Army (Fairbanks/Springfield) - Army West Point defenseman Mac Gadowsky posted eight points in three games in the month of December on a goal and seven assists. The State College, Pa., native had a career period on Dec. 2 as he helped rally the Black Knights from a 2-0 deficit to a 4-3 win over Mercyhurst, assisting on Army’s first three goals before potting the game-winning goal with 1:37 left in the contest. He went on to assist on the Black Knights’ first two goals the following night against the Lakers to give him points on six consecutive goals in the series. He closed the month with a two-assist effort in the Black Knights’ victory over No. 16/16 New Hampshire on Dec. 29. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey monthly honor.
Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month: Alfred Lindberg, AIC (New Mexico Ice Wolves) - AIC freshman Alfred Lindberg was a consistent strong performer for the Yellow Jackets in December, scoring points in all seven AIC contests and posting four multi-point showings. The Hallsberg, Sweden native led Atlantic Hockey with 13 points on six goals and seven assists while also taking key faceoffs and winning at a 55.3 percent clip. On special teams, he was part of a penalty kill that average 88.9 percent and a power-play that scored at a 21.7 percent rate. His .333 shooting percentage (six goals on 18 shots) led all AHA players with more than 10 shots during the month. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey monthly honor.
CCHA Forward of the Month: Adam Eisele, Minnesota State (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) - Eisele led the Mavericks to a 3-2-1 month, recording three goals and three assists for six points in six games. Posting a +1 rating, he finished December on a five-game point streak, including netting a pair of goals to go along with two helpers in Minnesota State’s three victories in that span. He was also successful in the face-off circle, winning 60% (57-of-95) of his draws in the month. In total, he notched 17 shots on goal and had one block at the defensive end.
CCHA Defenseman of the Month: Travis Shoudy, Ferris State (Austin Bruins) - Shoudy paced all CCHA defensemen with six points in December, including two goals and four assists in seven contests. His 0.86 points per game was also tops among conference blue-liners and his 22 shots on goal ranked third among all skaters. He opened the month with a pair of helpers in a split with St. Thomas, before matching a season-best three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in a 4-3 loss at Bowling Green on December 9. In Ferris State’s Great Lakes Invitational semifinal appearance, he netted the Bulldogs’ only goal and was +1 in a 4-1 defeat to then-No. 7 Michigan State.
CCHA Rookie of the Month: Cole Moore, Bowling Green (Aberdeen Wings) - Moore went 3-3-0 with a 2.30 goals against average and a .939 save percentage during the month of December, helping Bowling Green climb the CCHA standings in the process. He played the third-most minutes of any conference netminder (338:57) and led the league in saves (201), save percentage and shutouts (1). His month was highlighted by a 39-save shutout of Ferris State on December 8, which the Falcons won, 1-0.
ECHL Player of the Month: Brandon Hawkins, Toledo (Texas Tornado) - Brandon Hawkins of the Toledo Walleye has been named the ECHL Player of the Month for December. It is the second time in his career that he has received the monthly honor. Hawkins scored six goals and added 14 assists for 20 points in 14 games, helping the Walleye to an 11-1-2 record during the month. The 29-year-old had at least one point in 12 of his 14 games in December, including seven-multi point games. He had three points (1g-2a) on Dec. 16 at Iowa, and among his six two-point games was a two-goal night on Dec. 8 against Cincinnati. A native of Macomb, Michigan, Hawkins is tied for third in the ECHL with 17 goals and is second with 40 points in 28 games with the Walleye this season.
B1G #3 Star: Kyle McClellan, Wisconsin (Austin Bruins) - Did not allow a goal in posting consecutive shutouts for Wisconsin at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off, extending his shutout streak to 124:48. He stopped all 55 shots to earn the tournament’s Most Outstanding Goaltender award. He improved on his NCAA-leading numbers for wins (14), goals-against average (1.62), save percentage (.939) and shutouts (5). McClellan earns fourth Star award of his career and his third this season.
ECAC Forward of the Week: Ryan Taylor, Clarkson (Bismarck Bobcats) - Ryan Taylor has earned the title of Forward of the Week, showcasing a stellar three-point performance for the Golden Knights during a 1-1 weekend at the Adirondack Winter Invitational in Lake Placid, New York. The sophomore forward contributed one assist in Friday’s game against Arizona State and followed up with a two-goal game against Massachusetts, including the eventual overtime game-winner. Taylor unleashed six shots on goal over the weekend.
ECAC Goalie of the Week: Ian Shane, Cornell (Bismarck Bobcats) - Ian Shane clinches MAC Goaltending Goaltender of the Week honors with an impressive performance for the Big Red in the Adirondack Winter Invitational, amassing 40 saves and allowing just four goals against nationally-ranked Arizona State and Massachusetts. In Friday’s game against the Minutemen, Shane stood strong between the pipes, securing a shootout win.
