NAHL Alumni Update
Hockey East Defender of the Week: Jack Malinski, Vermont (Austin Bruins) - Jack Malinski (Fr., D; Lakeville, Minn.) had a goal and assisted on the game-winning strike as he was named First Star of the Game in Vermont’s 4-1 win over Union Saturday night. Malinski’s tally was his first career goal.
Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week: Mac Gadowsky, D, Army (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) - Army West Point freshman defenseman Mac Gadowsky registered an Atlantic Hockey-leading six points in the Black Knights’ series at Mercyhurst. On Friday, the State College, Pa., native helped complete Army's comeback with a four-point third period that featured three primary assists and his first career goal, which was also the game-winner. In Saturday’s series finale, Gadowsky logged a pair of helpers in the 4-3 defeat. He finished the weekend with seven shots on goal and four blocked shots. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.
Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Week: Chad Veltri, Robert Morris (Corpus Christi IceRays) - Robert Morris graduate student Chad Veltri made an Atlantic Hockey season-high 88 saves in the Colonials’ series sweep of Niagara. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native stopped 38 shots in Thursday’s 4-1 home win, which included a 25-save effort in the third period to secure the win. On Saturday, Veltri turned in his third 50+ save game of the season as he turned away 50-of-51 Purple Eagle shots in a 3-1 road victory. Veltri upped his career save total to 3,137, which ranks No. 8 in AHA history. His 45 career wins rank him No. 9 in conference history. This is his eighth career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.
Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week: Brian Kramer, D, AIC (Corpus Christi IceRays) - AIC senior Brian Kramer continued his torrid pace with a multi-point performance in the Yellow Jackets’ overtime win over No. 19/19 RIT on Friday night. The Wexford, Pa., native fired the shot that was deflected in for the tying goal late in the third period before scoring the game-winning tally in the extra frame. Friday’s tally gave Kramer nine goals on the year, putting him in the lead nationally for defensemen and breaking AIC's Division I-era single season record for blueliners. This is his third career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Travis Shoudy, Ferris State (Austin Bruins) - Shoudy paced all CCHA blueliners with three points on a goal and two assists. Even on the weekend, he anchored the Bulldogs defensive core in a 1-0 defeat at Bowling Green on Friday night, recording four shots on goal. He then had a hand in all three Ferris State goals in a 4-3 loss on Saturday, scoring the team’s first goal, before setting up the next two, which tied the game at 3-3 at the time. He finished with three shots on goal in the contest for a total of seven on the week – the second-most among league defensemen.
CCHA Goalie of the Week: Cole Moore, Bowling Green (Aberdeen Wings) - Moore went 2-0-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage last week, leading the Falcons to their first sweep of the season. He stopped all 39 shots he faced to earn his first collegiate shutout on Friday in a 1-0 victory over Ferris State. He then turned away 34-of-37 attempts on Saturday in a 4-3 victory. For the weekend, he made eight saves while Bowling Green was shorthanded, helping the penalty kill go 5-for-6.
ECAC Rookie of the Week: Nikita Nikora, Dartmouth (Springfield Jr. Blues) - Nikita Nikora (Fr., Dartmouth) secures Rookie of the Week honors with a remarkable three-point performance in the Big Green’s stellar display, holding nationally-ranked Arizona State to two ties in the non-conference series. In Friday’s 4-4 tie, Nikora contributed one goal and one assist. The following night, the first-year forward added an assist on Cooper Flinton’s game-tying goal. Nikora finished with a positive plus-minus of one and registered three shots on goal.
ECAC Goalie of the Week: Nathan Reid, Yale (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) - Nathan Reid (Sr., Yale) receives the honor of MAC Goaltending Goaltender of the Week for his outstanding performance between the pipes for the Bulldogs. Reid boasted a .929 save percentage, making 26 saves and allowing just two goals in Friday’s 5-2 victory against Merrimack.