NCHC Players of the Month - November (PDF)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After each led their teams to a very successful month of November, North Dakota sophomore forward Nick Schmaltz was selected the NCHC Player of the Month for November while Omaha freshman goaltender Evan Weninger was chosen as the NCHC Rookie of the Month for November, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced Tuesday.
NCHC PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Nick Schmaltz
North Dakota
Sophomore Forward
Verona, Wis.
Schmaltz was a dominant force on the ice throughout November, leading the NCHC and ranking second nationally with 15 points in eight games, helping North Dakota to a 6-2-0 record during the month. Of his 15 points, 13 were assists, which did lead the NCAA during the month, as did his plus-14 plus/minus rating. The sophomore center averaged 1.88 points per game in November, second in the NCHC, while his 1.62 assists per game during the month were first in the NCHC and third in the country. Of his 13 assists, seven were primary helpers, which tied for the NCAA lead during the month, while eight came on the road and 10 were at even strength. He also assisted on four game-winning goals in November, which led the NCAA, while scoring two goals himself during the month.
After being held scoreless to open the month Nov. 6 at Wisconsin, Schmaltz started a seven-game point streak with an assist in a win the next night over the Badgers. The following weekend the Chicago Blackhawks prospect starting rolling with a six-point weekend in a sweep of Miami. On Nov. 13, he compiled a career-high four points, finishing off a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal for his first marker of the season while he handed out a career-high three helpers as well, including on the game-winner. He was also a career-best plus-4 in the win. Schmaltz found the back of the net the next night as well to tie the game with Miami in the final two minutes and force overtime, which UND went on to win. He also added an assist Nov. 14 for a two-point night and was named NCAA Second Star of the Week for his efforts. Schmaltz was tabbed the game’s No. 1 star in both games against Miami, as well.
On Nov. 20-21, Schmaltz racked up four assists in a split at St. Cloud State. In Friday’s 4-3 victory, he assisted on three goals, including the game-winner, to again match a career high for helpers, while handing out an assist on the Fighting Hawks’ lone goal in a loss the following night. The 2014 NHL first round draft pick capped his November with a pair of two-assist games in a sweep at Michigan State. On Nov. 27, he dished out two primary assists in a 3-1 win while he again handed out a pair of primary helpers in the series finale Nov. 29, a 4-1 win over the Spartans, as he set up the game-winning goal in both contests. Schmaltz recorded at least a point in his final seven games of November to end the month with a career-long seven-game point streak, which included five multi-point outings. He was also named the second star of the game twice over the final two weeks of the month.
On the season, Schmaltz leads the NCAA with 19 assists in 16 games while his 21 points tie for fourth nationally and second in the NCHC. He also leads the NCAA with a plus-23 rating through two months.
Schmaltz is now a candidate for the Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Player of the Month for November, which will be announced Wednesday. Other nominees for NCHC Player of the Month included Denver junior defenseman Will Butcher, Minnesota Duluth senior forward Austin Farley, Omaha junior forward Jake Guentzel and St. Cloud State senior forward David Morley. SCSU junior goaltender Charlie Lindgren was the NCHC Player of the Month for October.
NCHC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Evan Weninger
Omaha
Freshman Goaltender
Saskatoon, Sask.
Weninger was a perfect 5-0-0 in goal during November, backstopping Omaha to a 5-0-1 record during the month as he started five of UNO’s six games in November. He compiled a .944 save percentage in those five starts, which led all NCAA rookie netminders and ranked second among all NCHC goaltenders during the month. Weninger allowed just 11 goals in November for a 2.18 goals-against average, which ranked third among NCAA freshman goalies and fourth among all NCHC netminders. His five wins in the month led rookie goalies nationally while he was the only freshman goalie to post a 1.000 win percentage in November and one of just seven among all goalies in the NCAA.
Weninger opened November by making a career-high 45 saves in a 4-2 win over Minnesota Duluth Nov. 6. The following night, he turned aside 35 shots in another 4-2 victory. Weninger was named the game’s second star both nights and also garnered NCHC Rookie of the Week honors for his efforts as he stopped 80 of 84 shots in the series. After a night off in the series opener at Miami, Weninger returned in net Nov. 21 and compiled 30 saves in a 3-2 overtime win as he was named No. 1 star of the game.
In his final weekend of November, Weninger backstopped the Mavericks to a sweep of Ohio State. He stopped 34 shots in a 3-1 win Nov. 27 and racked up 42 more saves in a 6-4 win the next night. He was the game’s third star in Friday’s victory. Weninger saved at least 30 shots in all five of his starts in November, hitting the 40-save mark twice, while only allowing two goals or less in four of his five outings. He totaled 186 saves during the month on 197 shots. On the season, Weninger ranks third nationally among all goaltenders with a .948 save percentage, which is tops among rookies, while his 1.91 GAA is 11th nationally and second among freshmen. He now has an 8-1-0 record in net this season.
Weninger is now a candidate for Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Month for November, which will be announced on Wednesday. Other nominees for NCHC Rookie of the Month included North Dakota freshman forward Brock Boeser, Denver freshman forward Dylan Gambrell and Miami freshman forward Jack Roslovic, who was the NCHC Rookie of the Month for October.
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