COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 11-17 are St. Cloud State senior forward Cory Thorson for Offensive Player of the Week, North Dakota senior defenseman Dillon Simpson for Defenseman of the Week, Minnesota Duluth freshman forward Alex Iafallo for Rookie of the Week and Denver senior goaltender Sam Brittain for Goaltender of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cory Thorson, St. Cloud State
Senior Forward
Crystal, Minn.
Thorson had a monster weekend, totaling five points on three goals and two assists to lead St. Cloud State to a sweep at Alabama-Huntsville. In Friday’s 10-0 win, he notched a career-high four points on two goals and two assists, including one each on the man advantage. Three of his four points Friday came in the second period, having a hand in the first two goals of the frame. The next night, the senior tallied the first goal of the night in the first period before being injured later in the game. Thorson posted a +2 rating in Friday’s contest and finished +2 on the weekend.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Dillon Simpson, North Dakota
Senior Defenseman
Edmonton, Alb.
Simpson anchored North Dakota’s defense in a weekend split with No. 20 Minnesota Duluth, while also chipping in four points on the offensive end. In Friday’s 4-2 win, he handed out a pair of assists, tying his career high, including one on the game-winning goal in the third period. On Saturday, UND’s captain again tallied two points, scoring North Dakota’s first goal to tie the game in the first period on the power play while adding an assist later in the game. Simpson blocked three shots on the weekend, including two Saturday, and had an even +/- rating.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Alex Iafallo, Minnesota Duluth
Freshman Forward
Eden, N.Y.
Iafallo continued to be an offensive juggernaut for Minnesota Duluth, leading them to a split at No. 14/13 North Dakota. The winger totaled four points on two goals and two assists on the weekend, playing a role in half of UMD’s eight goals against UND. On Friday, he scored the Bulldogs’ first goal of the game in the third period and then assisted on a power play goal to tie the game 20 seconds later. In Saturday’s 6-3 victory, he again had a goal and an assist, scoring the first goal of the game in the first period on the power play while assisting on an empty-netter. Iafallo, who has now won the award twice this year, posted a +1 rating on the weekend and was the game’s third star Friday. He is now riding a five-game point streak.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Sam Brittain, Denver
Senior Goaltender
Calgary, Alb.
Once again, Brittain was strong in net for Denver, backstopping the Pioneers to a sweep of Western Michigan. He compiled a .947 save percentage on the weekend while allowing just three goals in two games. On Friday, he gave up all three goals in a 5-3 victory, stopping 28 shots while helping DU go 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. A night later, Brittain was even better as he pitched his third shutout of the season in a 1-0 win, stopping all 26 shots he faced to earn the game’s first star honors. The senior finished the weekend with a 1.50 GAA and 54 saves while killing all 12 WMU power plays, including all seven on Saturday. He has now won the award three times this year.
OTHER NOMINEES:
Offensive Player of the Week
Austin Czarnik, Jr., F, Miami – Totaled three points in a split with Wisconsin on two goals and an assist, including a short-handed empty-net goal Friday and two points Saturday
Adam Krause, Jr., F, UMD – Scored three goals in a split at North Dakota, including his first power play goal Friday and his first multi-goal game Saturday, which were UMD’s first two of the game
Trevor Moore, Fr., F, Denver – Scored first two goals of his career in Friday’s 5-3 win over Western Michigan and was named the game’s first star
Defenseman of the Week
Chris Joyaux, So., D, Miami – Had an assist on Miami’s short-handed empty-net goal in Friday’s shutout and finished with a +2 rating while blocking five shots on the weekend
David Makowski, Sr., D, Denver – Had an assist in Friday’s win and scored the game-winning goal (game’s only goal) on Saturday while blocking five shots and helping DU go 12-for-12 on the PK on the weekend
Brian O’Rourke, Jr., D, UNO – Scored a goal in Saturday’s loss to Michigan and blocked a combined 11 shots, including seven in Friday’s win, while posting a +3 rating on the weekend
Andrew Prochno, Jr., D, SCSU – Dished out four assists in a sweep of UAH, including three on Friday, while blocking a combined nine shots and posting a +4 rating
Rookie of the Week
Paul LaDue, Fr., D, UND – Totaled two points in a split with Minn. Duluth, assisting on a goal and blocking a shot in Friday’s win while scoring his first career goal in Saturday’s loss
Anthony Louis, Fr., F, Miami – Scored the game-winning goal in Friday’s win over Wisconsin and had a +1 rating
Trevor Moore, Fr., F, Denver – Scored first two goals of his career in Friday’s 5-3 win over Western Michigan and was named the game’s first star
Ryan Papa, Fr., F, SCSU – Handed out four assists in a sweep at Alabama-Huntsville with two each night, including one on the game-winner Saturday, while posting a +3 rating
Justin Parizek, Fr., F, UNO – Dished out three assists in a split with Michigan, including two on Saturday, while logging a +3 rating and blocking two shots on the weekend
Goaltender of the Week
Ryan McKay, So., G, Miami – Compiled a .946 save percentage in a split with Wisconsin, pitching his third shutout of the year Friday with 30 saves, while making 23 stops in Saturday’s 3-2 loss
--NCHCHockey--