Alumni Update: Multiple Former NAHLers Skating to Weekly and Monthly Honors in NCAA Division I Hockey
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is proud to recognize multiple alumni earning recognition on the NCAA Division I ranks. This week saw multiple weekly and monthly honors given to former players in the League of Opportunity.
CCHA Monthly Honors:
Forward of the Month: Leo Bulgakov, Aberdeen Wings
Showing off his scoring ways for the Vikings all month long, Bulgakov led in about every offensive category in the CCHA. The former Central Division skater led CCHA skaters with eight goals, 11 points, 30 shots, a +11 rating, and a 26.7% shooting percentage. The Belarusian has been a key piece in Augustana’s success in October, aiding the team to a 7-0-1 record. The two-year NAHL skater scored two power-play goals and one game-winning goal this past month. In addition, Bulgakov averaged ample minutes on the ice, recording 15:14 minutes per game across the eight appearances. Right now, the former Aberdeen forward features the longest active goal streak in the country, riding a five-game heater.
Defenseman of the Month: Landon Fandel, Bismarck Bobcats
The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native consistently showed up on the scoresheet for the Augustana Vikings in October. Fandel recorded three goals and produced four helpers to lead all CCHA defensemen with seven points in the month. The former Central Division blueliner was effective on the ice, recording a +6 rating. Fandel is a sophomore skater for the Vikings, helping Augustana to a 7-0-1 record for the season. Lastly, the two-year Bobcat skater averaged 17:56 minutes per contest with the Division I program.
Goaltender of the Month: Owen Bartoszkiewicz, Oklahoma Warriors
The former South Division netminder, Bartoszkiewicz, went 6-2-0 for Michigan Tech in October. The Michigan native recorded a 1.76 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage with one shutout for the Huskies. His work in the crease led netminders in the CCHA with 228 saves, while ranking second with his goals-against average and save percentage. The former Warrior stood tall in the blue paint night after night, featuring at least 29 saves in six of his eight contests played.
Atlantic Monthly Honors:
Defenseman of the Month: Nolan Cunningham, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Holding it down on the blue line for the Air Force Academy in October, Cunningham spotlighted a six-point month, scoring two goals while recording four assists. The Montana native ranked second amongst AHA defensemen with his 0.75 points per game. In addition to his offensive ways, Cunningham logged nine blocked shots while spotlighting a +3 rating on the ice with the Falcons. His prowess from the blue line had the former Midwest Division skater recording points in five out of the eight games played in the month.
Goaltender of the Month: JJ Cataldo, Springfield Jr. Blues
Backstopping the Black Knights to their best conference start, Cataldo went 4-0-0 in conference play with Army. The former Midwest Division netminder led all AHA goaltenders with 5 wins, a 1.49 goals-against average, and a .945 save percentage. In the final weekend of October play, the Florida native recorded back-to-back shutouts. Cataldo now rides a five-game win streak. This honor marks the first time the former Jr. Blue earned a Goaltender of the Month honor in his collegiate career.
ECAC Monthly Honor:
Goaltender of the Month, Christian Kirsch, Janesville Jets
Making a mark in his freshman season at Quinnipiac, Christian Krish earned the first monthly honor in the ECAC. The former Midwest Division netminder recorded a 2.17 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage for the Bobcats in his five games played. The ‘06 netminder notched four wins in his first five collegiate games. Kirsch kicked off his NCAA career with a three-game win streak, with his four wins ranking second among ECAC Hockey netminders. In addition, the Switzerland native reached the 30-save plateau in three of his last four outings, winning each contest for Quinnipiac.
CCHA Weekly Honors
Forward of the Week: Leo Bulgakov, Aberdeen Wings
The former Central Division forward led CCHA skaters on the scoresheet over the weekend. He tallied two goals, recorded three assists, and totaled five points for the Augustana Vikings. He was a major offensive force, posting a +7 rating in the two-game set against Northern Michigan. On Friday night, he logged a goal and three assists, and then recorded a tally on Saturday.
Defenseman of the Week: Maxon Vig, Oklahoma Warriors
The Bemidji State blueliner sported a two-point performance with the Beavers, recording a goal and an assist over the weekend. Vig was a defensive presence on the ice, averaging 22:58 minutes per game against Ferris State. His helper was notched on Friday night while his tally was scored on Saturday evening in game-tying fashion for the Beavers.
Atlantic Weekly Honors
Goaltender of the Week: JJ Cataldo, Springfield Jr. Blues
The 6-foot netminder from Florida was recognized for his work between the pipes for the Army-West Point Black Knights over the weekend. Cataldo was perfect in net, stopping all 50 shots by RIT in their two-game set. His first shutout was a 23-save performance, lifting his team to a 2-0 victory on Friday night. Moving into Halloween night, the former Jr. Blues turned aside all 27 shots by the Tigers to secure his team the 3-0 win. These back-to-back shutouts are Cataldo’s first in his collegiate career and give the junior netminder a total of eight shutouts as a Black Knight. Cataldo now leads all active NCAA goaltenders with eight shutouts.
Forward of the Week: Jackson Reineke, Anchorage Wolverines
The senior skater from Faribault, Minnesota, Reineke was the only skater in the Atlantic to have a multi-goal weekend. Reineke got the scoring started in both contests for the Robert Morris Colonials over the weekend. His offensive presence on Saturday night provided the spark to the Colonials’ come-from-behind victory with a power-play tally. This award marks the first time the former Wolverine earned a weekly distinction.
Hockey East Weekly Honor
Goaltender of the Week: Lawton Zacher, Minot Minotauros
The Northeastern senior recorded season-high performances in back-to-back contests against Boston College over the weekend. Starting on Friday night, the former Tauro turned aside 45 shots for the Huskies. On Halloween night, Zacher topped his previous night’s performance with a 46-save night, lifting his team to a 4-3 victory over Boston College. Over the two-game set, he recorded 91 saves and helped his team to a weekend split series.
NCHC Weekly Honor
Goaltender of the Week: Will Ingemann, St. Cloud Norsemen
The St. Thomas netminder stood tall between the pipes over the weekend. The former Central Division goaltender recorded an NCHC-best .957 save percentage with the two-game set. He turned aside 67 out of 70 shots between the two contests against Miami. On Friday night, he stopped 32 shots. Moving into Saturday, Ingemann stopped a career-high 35 shots in the Tommies’ first NCHC victory. Ingemann made double-digit saves in all three periods, allowing only a late power-play goal. His 1.52 goals-against average was second in the NCHC over the weekend.
B1G Weekly Honor
Third Star of the Week: Gavin Morrissey, Austin Bruins
The University of Wisconsin captain spotlighted a five-point weekend for the Badgers. He scored a goal and recorded four assists in his team’s sweep of Notre Dame. On Friday night, the former Central Division skater recorded the first short-handed tally of his college career. On Saturday night, Morrissey logged a career-high with a three-assist performance. The two-year NAHL forward led Wisconsin skaters with five points and is currently on a three-game multipoint streak.
