Men's Ice Hockey 1/17/2017 2:00:00 AM By NCHC

Bauer NCHC Players of the Week: January 9-15, 2017

Miami’s Louis, SCSU’s Ahcan and Denver’s Jaillet honored for week 13

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following a weekend that saw several split series, it was the road teams that provided the top individual performances as all three Bauer NCHC Players of the Week for the week of Jan. 9-15, 2017 played away from home. Earning Bauer NCHC Player of the Week honors for week 13 are Miami senior forward Anthony Louis for Offensive Player of the Week, St. Cloud State freshman blue liner Jack Ahcan for both Defenseman and Rookie of the Week, and Denver junior netminder Tanner Jaillet for Goaltender of the Week.

The award is Louis’ first career NCHC weekly honor, while Ahcan previously won Rookie of the Week twice this season. Jaillet collected his third NCHC Goaltender of the Week award this season and fifth of his career.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Anthony Louis, Miami
Senior Forward
Winfield, Ill.

Louis continued his hot play of late, leading Miami to a split at then No. 7 North Dakota last weekend while totaling three points. On Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks draft pick helped spur a third-period comeback, scoring a goal only 32 ticks into the final frame to start a five-goal period, then adding the primary assist on the fifth and final unanswered goal to seal a 6-3 win and a two-point night. He was also plus-2 in the victory, which extended Miami’s win streak to five games. The next night, Louis tallied the RedHawks’ only goal in a 3-1 loss, tying the game early in the first period after UND took a quick lead. Louis stretched his point streak to a career-long seven games in the series, totaling 10 points during the streak. The assistant captain finished the weekend with two goals, an assist, a plus-2 rating and four shots on goal. Louis ranks third in the NCHC with 28 points this season, including 13 goals in 22 games.

DEFENSEMAN AND ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Jack Ahcan, St. Cloud State
Freshman Defenseman
Savage, Minn.

Ahcan played in his first full weekend series for the Huskies in over a month, after returning from the IIHF World Junior Championship last weekend with a gold medal as part of Team USA, and led St. Cloud State to a split at then No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. The rookie totaled three points in the two games, while playing on the top defensive pair both nights and leading a penalty kill unit that finished 7-for-8 on the weekend. On Friday, Ahcan scored the Huskies’ only goals with one midway through each of the first two periods, including the game-winning goal in the second period of a 2-1 victory. He was plus-2 in the win while the SCSU penalty kill went 5-for-5 as Ahcan earned First Star of the Game. A night later, he had the primary assist on the game-tying power play goal in the third period that knotted the game at 3-3 before UMD won in overtime. Ahcan fired five shots on goal in the loss and put eight on net in the series. In all, he had two goals, an assist, a plus-3 rating and an impressive five blocked shots. On the season, Ahcan has 16 points in 18 games, including five goals and 11 assists.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Tanner Jaillet, Denver
Junior Goaltender
Red Deer, Alberta

Jaillet backstopped the top-ranked Pioneers to a split at then No. 14 Western Michigan last weekend, allowing only two goals in the series, surrendering one each night. On Friday, he made 27 saves in a 3-0 loss, with his only goal allowed coming on a WMU power play in the third period that broke a scoreless deadlock, before the Broncos tacked on two empty-netters. Saturday, Jaillet totaled 22 saves over the game’s first 50 minutes before giving way to Evan Cowley in a 7-2 victory, with the lone goal Jaillet allowed coming in the second stanza en route to him garnering First Star of the Game honors. He finished the series with a 1.10 goals-against average, a .961 save percentage and 49 saves on 51 shots in 109 minutes in net. On the season, Jaillet is tops in the NCHC with 13 wins (13-4-4), compiling a .927 save percentage and a 1.92 GAA, both of which are second in the conference.

OTHER NOMINEES:

Offensive Player of the Week
Evan Ritt, Sr., F, Denver – Ritt tallied a career-high three points in Saturday’s win at WMU, scoring his first goal of the season and adding two assists, including on the game-winning goal.

Tyler Vesel, Jr., F, Omaha – Totaled three points in a sweep at CC, scoring two power play goals in Friday’s win while adding an assist in Saturday’s victory.

Defenseman of the Week
Louie Belpedio, Jr., D, Miami – Tallied a career-high three points in Friday’s comeback win at UND, scoring a goal and adding two assists, including on the game-winner, all in the third period.

Will Butcher, Sr., D, Denver – Dished out two assists in Saturday’s win at WMU, while posting a plus-2 rating and blocking four shots in the series split.

Luc Snuggerud, Jr., D, Omaha – Totaled three points in a sweep at CC with a goal in each game, while adding an assist Friday and posting a plus-2 rating on Saturday.

Rookie of the Week
Kris Oldham, Fr., G, Omaha – Only played in Friday’s 5-2 win at CC, totaling 26 saves for a .929 save percentage with two goals allowed.

Goaltender of the Week
Evan Weninger, So., G, Omaha – Only played Saturday, starting and compiling 30 saves on 32 shots in a 4-2 victory at CC for a .938 save percentage in the win.

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