COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With all eight National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams returning to conference play last weekend, there were several strong candidates, but the Bauer NCHC Players of the Week from Jan. 6-12 are Western Michigan senior forward Chase Balisy for Offensive Player of the Week, North Dakota senior defenseman Dillon Simpson for Defenseman of the Week, Colorado College freshman defenseman Jaccob Slavin for Rookie of the Week and Minnesota Duluth senior netminder Aaron Crandall for Goaltender of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chase Balisy, Western Michigan
Senior Forward
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Balisy led the Broncos to their first sweep of Miami since 2003, recording five points on the weekend, including three short-handed, on two goals and three assists, while posting an impressive +5 rating. In Friday’s 5-4 victory, the senior center logged his third career three-point game, assisting on the opening goal of the game, then tying the game at 3-3 with a short-handed breakaway goal and setting up the game-winning goal, also short-handed, in the closing seconds of the game after forcing a turnover. The Nashville Predators prospect was also +3 in the contest and was named the game’s second star. The next night, Balisy added two more points in a 3-2 win and had a +2 rating. He tallied his second short-handed goal of the weekend in the opening minutes Saturday, then again forced a turnover on a penalty kill in the third period to set up WMU’s game-winning goal for a second straight night.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Dillon Simpson, North Dakota
Senior Defenseman
Edmonton, Alta.
Simpson was strong at both ends of the ice to lead North Dakota to a sweep of Colorado College and extend UND’s winning streak to seven. In the series, he recorded three points on a goal and two assists, while also blocking five shots. In Friday’s 5-3 win, the captain assisted on North Dakota’s first goal while scoring the game-winning goal in the closing seconds of the second period to earn third star of the game honors. The next night, Simpson again assisted on the game’s first goal and blocked three shots. The Edmonton Oilers prospect finished with an even +/- rating in the series and leads NCHC defensemen with 11 points in league play. Simpson has now won NCHC Defenseman of the Week twice this year (Nov. 11).
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College
Freshman Defenseman
Erie, Colo.
Slavin was a factor on the ice for Colorado College in its series at North Dakota, scoring three goals and blocking six shots despite CC dropping both contests. In Friday’s 5-3 defeat, the Carolina Hurricanes draft pick scored two goals in a span of 2:31 in the third period to help rally the Tigers within one at 4-3. He was named the game’s No. 2 star after his first career multi-goal game, also blocking three shots in the contest. He was the first Tiger to record multiple goals in a game this year, as well. Saturday, Slavin again found the back of the net early in the third period, putting CC up 2-1 before UND rallied late. He also blocked another three shots in the series finale, while Slavin and the Tigers’ penalty kill unit finished the weekend 7-of-8, including killing all four UND power plays Saturday. Slavin earned NCHC Defenseman of the Week Oct. 14, though this is his first Rookie of the Week honor.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Crandall, Minnesota Duluth
Senior Goaltender
Lakeville, Minn.
Crandall had the best weekend of his career, backstopping Minnesota Duluth to its first road sweep of the season as he earned both wins in net against Nebraska Omaha. In two games, the senior compiled 90 saves on 93 shots for a .968 save percentage, while recording a 1.50 goals-against average in the series. On Friday, he made a career-high 38 saves while allowing just two goals, including one on the power play, in a 3-2 win. The next night, Crandall bettered his career best by stopping a whopping 52 shots and giving up just one goal in a 3-1 win, while helping UMD kill all four UNO power plays. His 52 saves Saturday were the most by a Bulldog since March of 2007 and marked the first time a UMD goalie recorded 50 saves or more in regulation since Bill Perkl on Nov. 9, 1979.
OTHER NOMINEES:
Offensive Player of the Week
Jonny Brodzinski, So., F, SCSU – Scored three goals on the weekend in split at Denver, notching SCSU’s final two goals in a 6-3 win Friday, while tallying the Huskies first goal Saturday, as he finished with 15 shots on goal and a +2 rating on the weekend
Caleb Herbert, Jr., F, UMD – Had a hand in all three goals Saturday in UMD’s 3-1 win at Nebraska Omaha to complete a sweep, scoring the game-winner while adding two assists and a +3 rating in the contest
Michael Parks, Jr., F, UND – Logged three points in a sweep of Colorado College, scoring two goals, including one on the power play, in Friday’s 5-3 win, while assisting on the game’s first goal in Saturday’s win, as he posted a +3 rating on the weekend
Quentin Shore, So., F, Denver – Totaled four points in a split with St. Cloud State, assisting on a goal in Friday’s loss, while scoring a goal and adding two assists, including on the game-winning goal, in Saturday’s 5-2 win
Defenseman of the Week
Taylor Fleming, Fr., D, WMU – Recorded his first career assist on WMU’s first goal in Friday’s 5-4 win over Miami, while he scored his first collegiate goal Saturday to help complete WMU’s sweep, also posting a +3 rating in the series and helping WMU’s penalty kill go 12-for-13
Aaron Harstad, Jr., D, CC – Handed out three assists in the series at North Dakota while blocking eight shots as he dished out two helpers Friday and added another Saturday when he blocked five shots
Joey LaLeggia, Jr., D, Denver – Scored a goal in both games against St. Cloud State, helping the Pioneers to a weekend split, while blocking six shots and putting five shots on goal in the series
Rookie of the Week
Taylor Fleming, Fr., D, WMU – Recorded his first career assist on WMU’s first goal in Friday’s 5-4 win over Miami, while he scored his first collegiate goal Saturday to help complete WMU’s sweep, also posting a +3 rating in the series and helping WMU’s penalty kill go 12-for-13
Trevor Moore, Fr., F, Denver – Dished out an assist in Friday’s loss to SCSU, while scoring a goal and posting a +2 rating in Saturday’s 5-2 victory as he finished +1 on the weekend
Keaton Thompson, Fr., D, UND – Scored his second goal of the year Saturday to tie the game at 2-2 as UND went on to beat Colorado College, 3-2, while he had a +3 rating in his only game of the weekend
Goaltender of the Week
Frank Slubowski, Jr., G, WMU – Earned two wins in net to lead WMU to a sweep of Miami, giving up just three goals in nearly 87 minutes of action, stopping 13 shots in relief in Friday’s 5-4 win, while making 36 saves in Saturday’s 3-2 win, as he had a 2.07 GAA and .942 save percentage on the weekend
--NCHCHockey--
