Men's Ice Hockey 12/8/2015 2:30:00 AM By NCHC

Bauer NCHC Players of the Week: Nov. 30-Dec. 6

UMD’s Farley, Welinski; CC’s Nehama and UND’s Johnson honored for week nine

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After three National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams earned sweeps over the weekend, all four Bauer NCHC Players of the Week for week nine hail from those three teams. The Bauer NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6 are Minnesota Duluth senior forward Austin Farley for Offensive Player of the Week, UMD senior blue liner Andy Welinski for Defenseman of the Week, Colorado College freshman goaltender Jacob Nehama for Rookie of the Week and North Dakota sophomore netminder Cam Johnson for Goaltender of the Week.

Farley has now claimed NCHC Offensive Player of the Week twice in the last three weeks and three times in his career, while Welinski is now a two-time NCHC Defenseman of the Week. Nehama was recognized for the first time in his career while Johnson is now a three-time NCHC Goalie of the Week this season, including for the second straight week.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Austin Farley, Minnesota Duluth
Senior Forward
Niles, Ill.

Farley continued his recent hot streak of late, racking up six points in a sweep of Western Michigan, giving him 13 points in his last four games. In Friday’s 7-0 shutout, Farley handed out a pair of primary assists on UMD’s first two goals of the third period, with the second helper coming on the power play. The next night, Farley tied a career high with four points in a 6-2 win with a pair of goals and assists each. He dished out the primary assist on a pair of second-period goals, including the game-winner, while scoring two power play goals in the third period to blow the game open. Farley was named the game’s first star on Saturday as he posted a plus-1 rating for the second straight game. The senior finished the weekend with four primary assists, two goals, a plus-2 rating and put five shots on goal as UMD stretched its win streak to four games.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Andy Welinski, Minnesota Duluth
Senior Defenseman
Duluth, Minn.

Welinski led the Bulldogs to a sweep of Western Michigan contributing four points on the offensive end while limiting WMU to only two goals all weekend. On Friday, the Anaheim Ducks prospect handed out a season high three assists, including on the short-handed game-winning goal, as the three helpers tied a career high for assists and points. Welinski also blocked four shots and posted a plus-2 rating while helping UMD pitch its third straight shutout in a 7-0 victory. The next night, the team captain had the primary assist on the Bulldogs’ final goal in a 6-2 win to extend UMD’s win streak to four games. Welinski again posted a plus-2 rating and blocked a shot while anchoring a penalty kill that went 2-for-2 on Saturday. He finished the weekend with four assists, five blocked shots, a plus-4 rating and put four shots on goal. Welinski was key on special teams as well, as UMD finished 3-for-3 on the penalty kill in the series while he led a power play unit that was 7-for-12 against the Broncos.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jacob Nehama, Colorado College
Freshman Goaltender
Allen, Texas

Nehama had the best weekend of his young career in backstopping CC to a sweep of Miami – the Tigers’ first ever home sweep in NCHC play and first home sweep in conference play since November of 2012. He earned his first conference win on Friday, making 20 saves while allowing a career-low one goal in a 2-1 victory as he was named the game’s second star. On Saturday, Nehama turned aside 34 shots, the second-highest total of his career, while conceding just two goals in a 3-2 victory. He garnered the game’s third star on Saturday while extending his and the team’s win streak to three games. On the weekend, Nehama posted a .947 save percentage, stopping 54 of 57 shots faced, and a 1.50 goals against average. He also helped the Tigers go 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in the series, making five saves on Miami’s power plays.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Cam Johnson, North Dakota
Sophomore Goaltender
Troy, Mich.

Johnson continued his hot goaltending since returning from an injury two weeks ago, backstopping the Fighting Hawks to a sweep of No. 9 Denver while limiting the Pioneers to one goal all weekend. On Friday, he made 22 saves and surrendered just one goal in a 5-1 victory, including 12 saves in the third period. A night later, he stopped all 18 shots that came his way to record his first collegiate shutout in a 4-0 victory as he garnered third star of the game honors. Johnson was also pivotal on the penalty kill, helping UND go 10-for-10 a man down as Johnson made seven saves on DU’s five power plays Friday and killed another five power plays on Saturday. He finished the weekend making 40 saves on 41 shots for a .976 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average, while not allowing a goal over the final 98:38 of the series to run his win streak to four games.

OTHER NOMINEES:

Offensive Player of the Week
Hunter Fejes, Sr., F, CC – Scored three goals, including the game-winner both nights, in a sweep of Miami with two goals coming on Friday, when he compiled a plus-2 rating.

Justin Parizek, Jr., F, Omaha – Totaled three points in a split at SCSU with an assist each night, including on the game-winner Saturday, while also scoring a goal and posting a plus-1 rating in the series finale.

Austin Poganski, So., F, UND - Notched three goals, all on special teams including the game-winner both nights, in a sweep of Denver with two goals coming on Saturday, when he was plus-1 and struck short-handed.

Defenseman of the Week
Ian Brady, Jr., D, Omaha – Compiled three points in a split at SCSU with an assist each night and a goal in Saturday’s victory.

Andrew Farny, Fr., D, CC – Dished out two assists in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Miami while he blocked six shots and helped CC’s penalty kill go 5-for-5 in the series.

Keaton Thompson, Jr., D, UND – Handed out a career-high three assists in Friday’s win over DU while he finished the weekend with a plus-4 rating and led a penalty kill unit that was 10-for-10 in the series.

Rookie of the Week
Brock Boeser, Fr., F, UND – Scored three goals in a sweep of Denver with two goals on Friday and another goal Saturday while posting a plus-5 rating in the series.

Robby Jackson, Fr., F, SCSU – Tallied three goals in a split with Omaha, scoring two goals in Friday’s 4-1 win while adding another goal in Saturday’s loss.

Adam Johnson, Fr., F, UMD – Scored a goal in each game against WMU with Friday’s goal the first of his career while putting 10 shots on goal and posting a plus-2 rating in the series.

Goaltender of the Week
Kasimir Kaskisuo, So., G, UMD – Went 2-0 to lead UMD to a sweep of WMU with a .963 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA in the series, pitching a 27-save shutout Friday for his third straight whitewash, while making 25 more saves and allowing two goals in a 6-2 win Saturday.

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