COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) league play resumed last weekend with three NCHC series and all four NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Oct. 28-Nov. 3 played in conference games. The NCHC Offensive Player of the Week is Nebraska Omaha junior forward Josh Archibald, the NCHC Defenseman of the Week is Western Michigan junior defenseman Jordan Oesterle, the NCHC Rookie of the Week is UNO freshman forward Jake Guentzel and the NCHC Goaltender of the Week is St. Cloud State junior Ryan Faragher.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Archibald, Nebraska Omaha
Junior Forward
Brainerd, Minn.
Archibald had a huge weekend to help lead Nebraska Omaha to a sweep of Denver in its first NCHC series, totaling four points on two goals and two assists. On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect had a hand in all three goals, dishing out the primary assist on UNO’s first two goals before scoring the game-winner in overtime to give the Mavericks their first ever win at Denver, 3-2. On Saturday, the junior winger repeated his overtime heroics, again scoring the game-winning goal in the extra session for another 3-2 UNO victory. Archibald posted a +2 rating Friday and finished +3 on the week. He was the No. 1 star in both games as well.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Jordan Oesterle, Western Michigan
Junior Defenseman
Dearborn Heights, Mich.
Oesterle played a big role in helping the Broncos sweep Colorado College in their first ever NCHC series. On the offensive end, he had a goal and an assist for two points. Defensively, he led WMU’s penalty kill to a perfect 10-for-10 mark on the weekend while also blocking five shots and posting a +3 rating. In Friday’s 3-2 overtime win, the junior tallied the game-tying goal, blocked three shots and played on a penalty kill that was 6-for-6. On Saturday, Oesterle posted a +2 rating, blocked two more shots and handed out an assist in the Broncos’ 5-1 victory. He helped limit the Tigers to just three goals all weekend.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jake Guentzel, Nebraska Omaha
Freshman Forward
Woodbury, Minn.
Guentzel was instrumental in leading Nebraska Omaha to a weekend sweep over Denver, as he totaled four points on the weekend and posted a +3 rating. On Friday, he scored the first goal of the game and then handed out the primary assist on the overtime game-winner as UNO earned its first ever win at DU. Guentzel was also +2 in the contest. In Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win, the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect assisted on the Mavericks first goal and again dished out a helper on the overtime game-winner for another two-point night.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Faragher, St. Cloud State
Junior Goaltender
Fort Frances, Ont.
Faragher had a huge weekend, backstopping St. Cloud State to a sweep at No. 6/5 North Dakota, the Huskies first sweep at UND since January of 2006. He allowed just three goals all weekend, including only two even strength, to post a 1.50 goals-against average. In Friday’s 3-2 win, he totaled 29 saves while helping kill all three UND power plays. In Saturday’s 3-1 victory, the junior stopped 16 shots, including multiple saves on breakaways. Faragher improved to 5-0-0 on the year with the two wins as he totaled 45 saves on the weekend for a .938 save percentage.
OTHER NOMINEES:
Offensive Player of the Week
Blake Coleman, Jr., F, Miami – Totaled four points and a +3 rating in a sweep of Canisius, scoring a goal Friday and adding a career-high three assists Saturday, including on the game-winner
Nic Dowd, Sr., F, SCSU – Tallied three points in a sweep at North Dakota, assisting on the game-winner Friday while scoring the game-winner Saturday and adding another assist for a two-point night
Justin Kovacs, So., F, WMU – Finished with four points and a +4 rating in a sweep of Colorado College, scoring his first goal of the year Friday while totaling a career-high three points Saturday (1g, 2a)
Defenseman of the Week
Joey LaLeggia, Jr., D, Denver – Totaled three points in two games against UNO with a goal Friday and a goal and an assist Saturday, while putting 10 shots on goal and blocking a shot
Matthew Caito, So., D, Miami – Handed out an assist in each game during a sweep of Canisius while limiting the Golden Griffins to two goals all weekend and posting a +2 rating
Ian Brady, Fr., D, UNO – Compiled three points and a +2 rating in a sweep at Denver, scoring his first collegiate goal in Friday’s win on the power play while adding two assists Saturday
Troy Stecher, Fr., D, UND – Tallied three points in the series against St. Cloud State, assisting on both UND goals Friday for his first multi-point game and scoring his first career goal Saturday, while helping kill all five SCSU power plays on the weekend
Rookie of the Week
Anthony Louis, So., F, Miami – Finished with three points and a +3 rating in a sweep of Canisius, assisting on a goal Friday and totaling two points Saturday, including scoring the game-winner
Troy Stecher, Fr., D, UND – Tallied three points in the series against St. Cloud State, assisting on both UND goals Friday for his first multi-point game and scoring his first career goal Saturday, while helping kill all five SCSU power plays on the weekend
Goaltender of the Week
Ryan McKay, So., G, Miami – Stopped all 20 shots he faced Friday vs. Canisius to record his fifth career shutout and first of the season in his only action of the weekend
Ryan Massa, Jr., G, UNO – Totaled 33 saves on 35 shots to earn a 3-2 overtime win at Denver Friday, the Mavericks’ first ever victory at DU, in his only action of the weekend
Frank Slubowski, Jr., G, WMU – Earned two wins in net to help WMU sweep Colorado College as he allowed just three goals all weekend while posting a .950 save percentage a 1.48 GAA
--NCHCHockey--