COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 4-10 are Nebraska Omaha junior forward Dominic Zombo for Offensive Player of the Week, Denver junior defenseman Joey LaLeggia for Defenseman of the Week, Colorado College freshman forward Sam Rothstein for Rookie of the Week and both DU senior Sam Brittain and Miami sophomore Ryan McKay are the Co-Goaltenders of the Week in the NCHC.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dominic Zombo, Nebraska Omaha
Junior Forward
Ballwin, Mo.
Zombo helped Nebraska Omaha to a weekend split against No. 10/11 North Dakota, totaling three points on two assists and a goal in the series. In Saturday’s series-opening win, the center recorded two points, scoring UNO’s second goal early in the second period to put the Mavs up 2-0 while adding an assist on an empty-net goal that sealed the win. In Sunday’s finale, Zombo assisted on a power play goal late in the second period that put UNO within one. He also posted a +1 rating in Saturday’s contest and finished the weekend with a .636 faceoff percentage, winning 21 draws in two games.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Joey LaLeggia, Denver
Junior Defenseman
Burnaby, B.C.
LaLeggia played a big role in Denver earning five of six points in its NCHC series with Colorado College, scoring a goal while logging heavy minutes on the penalty kill and helping limit the Tigers to two goals all weekend. On Friday, the junior blueliner scored the game-tying goal at Colorado College with 82 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. After tying 1-1, LaLeggia then scored in the shootout to help DU earn an extra point in the standings while being named the game’s first star. On the weekend, the Edmonton Oilers prospect blocked three shots, posted a +1 rating and anchored the Pioneers penalty kill that finished 9-for-10 against CC.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sam Rothstein, Colorado College
Freshman Forward
Minnetonka, Minn.
Rothstein had the best weekend of his young career against Denver, dishing out a pair of assists while posting a +1 rating. In Friday’s 1-1 overtime tie, he assisted on CC’s only goal which put the Tigers on top in the first period and was +1. On Saturday, he again assisted on Colorado College’s only goal, which came on the power play, giving him an assist in three straight games for the first time in his career. Rothstein put seven shots on goal in the series and also won nine faceoffs in the two games.
CO-GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Sam Brittain, Denver
Senior Goaltender
Calgary, Alb.
Brittain was stellar in net against rival Colorado College, limiting the Tigers to just two goals all weekend, including only one even-strength marker. He posted an impressive .970 save percentage on the weekend, totaling 65 saves while helping kill nine of CC’s 10 power plays on the weekend. In Friday’s tie, he made 26 saves and also stopped both shootout attempts to earn the Pioneers an extra point. On Saturday, he made 39 saves in a 2-1 win despite DU being heavily outshot. Brittain compiled a 0.96 GAA on the weekend while earning first star honors Saturday and third star honors Friday.
CO-GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Ryan McKay, Miami
Sophomore Goaltender
Palatine, Ill.
McKay was also superb in goal for the RedHawks, backstopping Miami to a series split at No. 4/3 St. Cloud State. He held the Huskies to just two goals all weekend while also compiling a .970 save percentage, stopping 64 of 66 shots faced. In Friday’s 2-0 win, he pitched his second consecutive shutout, stopping all 31 shots and killing five SCSU power plays to earn first star honors. On Saturday, he upped his save total to 33 despite suffering a 2-1 loss, but again helped kill all five Husky power plays. McKay posted a 1.01 GAA for the weekend while denying all 10 SCSU power play chances.
OTHER NOMINEES:
Rookie of the Week
Will Butcher, Fr., D, Denver – Scored a power play goal Saturday in a win over Colorado College in his only action of the weekend
Luke Johnson, Fr., F, UND – Scored his first career goal with a power play tally Saturday at Omaha, while posting a +1 rating and putting four shots on goal
Matt Joyaux, Fr., D, Miami – Scored his first career goal Friday at St. Cloud State, which was the game-winner, while he was +2 in the contest and totaled four blocked shots in the two games, limiting SCSU to two goals all weekend
Goaltender of the Week
Clarke Saunders, Sr., G, UND – Earned the win in net Sunday at Omaha in his only action, totaling 36 saves while giving up just two goals, both of which came on the power play, on 38 shots (.947)
--NCHCHockey--