Bauer NCHC Player of the Week Archive

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) teams are represented among the Bauer NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Nov. 14-20. Earning NCHC weekly honors for week seven are Western Michigan sophomore forward Matheson Iacopelli for Offensive Player of the Week, North Dakota junior blue liner Tucker Poolman for Defenseman of the Week, Miami freshman goaltender Ryan Larkin for Rookie of the Week and UND junior netminder Cam Johnson for Goaltender of the Week.

Iacopelli has now claimed NCHC Offensive Player of the Week twice in the last three weeks, his only career NCHC weekly awards, while this is Poolman’s second career Defenseman of the Week accolade (first this season) and third NCHC weekly honor of his career. Larkin picked up his second NCHC weekly honor after earning NCHC Goaltender of the Week earlier this season, while Johnson garnered his seventh career NCHC Goalie of the Week award but first this season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Matheson Iacopelli, Western Michigan
Sophomore Forward
Brownstown, Mich.

Iacopelli continued his strong season, totaling four points against Air Force. In Friday’s 5-5 overtime tie, the Chicago Blackhawks prospect dished out the primary assists on WMU’s first two goals in the first period, while putting six shots on goal. The next night, Iacopelli logged his fourth multi-goal game this season with a pair of even strength goals, including his first goal serving as the game-winner, which broke a 1-1 tie in the second stanza. He put eight shots on goal and logged a plus-2 rating as he was named the game’s First Star in the 4-1 win. Iacopelli finished the series with two goals, two assists, a plus-3 rating and 14 shots on goal. He ranks second in the NCAA this season with 12 goals.

Defenseman of the Week

Tucker Poolman, North Dakota
Junior Defenseman
East Grand Forks, Minn.

Poolman guided North Dakota to its first sweep at St. Cloud State in 18 years, tallying three points while helping pitch a pair of shutouts. In Friday’s 4-0 victory, the assistant captain had the lone assist on UND’s second goal, which came in the second period. He also fired six shots on goal and posted a plus-1 rating in the win. The next night, Poolman recorded a multi-point game, handing out the primary assist on the Fighting Hawks first goal, which came on the power play in the first period and was the game-winning goal. The Winnipeg Jets prospect then scored UND’s second goal in the 3-0 whitewash and had another plus-1 rating to earn Second Star of the Game. Poolman finished the series with a plus-2 rating, eight shots on goal, a blocked shot and anchored a penalty kill unit then went 8-for-8 on the weekend (4-for-4 each night).

Rookie of the Week

Ryan Larkin, Miami
Freshman Goaltender
Clarkston, Mich.

Larkin backstopped the RedHawks to a pair of overtime ties at then No. 1 Denver, snapping a five-game losing streak. The rookie netminder totaled 87 saves on 90 shots in 130 minutes of regulation and 5-on-5 overtime in the series. He also did not allow a goal in 10 minutes of 3-on-3 overtime action. In Friday’s 1-1 tie, Larkin totaled a then-career-high 38 saves, while making seven more saves in 3-on-3 overtime to earn First Star honors. The next night Larkin was even better, compiling a career-high 49 saves in a 2-2 overtime draw, including 13 saves short-handed as he helped Miami go 5-for-6 on the penalty kill Saturday. He also made three saves in Saturday’s shootout and again was named First Star of the Game. Larkin finished the series with a .967 save percentage and a 1.38 goals-against average.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Cam Johnson, North Dakota
Junior Goaltender
Troy, Mich.

Johnson was perfect on the weekend, leading North Dakota to its first road sweep at then No. 12 St. Cloud State since 1998, while halting UND’s six-game winless skid. Johnson did not allow a goal the entire series for a pristine 1.000 save percentage and 0.00 goals-against average. On Friday, he made 26 saves, including five on SCSU power plays, in a 4-0 shutout, as he was named Third Star of the Game. A night later in a 3-0 win, Johnson turned away all 36 shots he faced, with three more saves short-handed, as he helped the Fighting Hawks go 8-for-8 on the penalty kill on the weekend. His second shutout of the weekend earned him First Star of the Game and gave him three shutouts on the season and eight for his career. Johnson totaled 62 saves in the pair of whitewashes and now has an active shutout streak of 153:35.

OTHER NOMINEES:

Offensive Player of the Week
Shane Gersich, So., F, UND – Tallied four goals and a plus-2 rating in UND’s sweep at SCSU, recording his first career hat trick in Friday’s 4-0 win when he tallied the game-winner, while scoring another goal Saturday.

Adam Johnson, So., F, UMD – Totaled four points on two goals and two assists and a plus-3 rating in a sweep at Omaha with a three-point night in Friday’s win while adding another goal on Saturday.

Defenseman of the Week
Taylor Fleming, Sr., D, WMU – Dished out a career-high-tying three assists in WMU’s 5-5 overtime tie with Air Force Friday, while posting a plus-1 rating and blocking two shots in the series.

Grant Hutton, So., D, Miami – Scored Miami’s lone goal in Friday’s tie at Denver and set up the RedHawks’ first goal in Saturday’s 2-2 tie, while blocking six shots and posting a plus-2 rating in the series.

Rookie of the Week
Tyson Jost, Fr., F, UND – Dished out two assists in Friday’s 4-0 win over SCSU, while posting a plus-2 rating and winning 27-of-35 faceoffs on the weekend.

Hugh McGing, Fr., F, WMU – Tallied the first three points of his collegiate career against Air Force, scoring his first goal in Friday’s tie and handing out two assists, including on the game-winner, on Saturday.

Goaltender of the Week
Collin Olson, Sr., G, WMU – In his only appearance of the weekend and season debut, allowed only one goal and made 18 saves in a 4-1 win over Air Force for a .947 save percentage.

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