Men's Ice Hockey 11/21/2017 3:00:00 AM By NCHC

Bauer NCHC Players of the Week: November 13-19, 2017

DU’s Borgström, UMD’s Perunovich, SCSU’s Brodzinski and Smith honored for week seven

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three teams are represented among the Bauer National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Players of the Week for week seven of the season. Garnering Bauer NCHC Player of the Week accolades for the week of Nov. 13-19, 2017 are Denver sophomore forward Henrik Borgström for Offensive Player of the Week, Minnesota Duluth freshman blue liner Scott Perunovich for Defenseman of the Week, St. Cloud State freshman forward Easton Brodzinski for Rookie of the Week and SCSU junior netminder Jeff Smith for Goaltender of the Week.

The honor is the fourth NCHC weekly award of Borgström’s career but first this season, winning three Rookie of the Week nods last year. Perunovich garnered his second NCHC weekly award after earning Rookie of the Week earlier this season, while it was Brodzinski’s first NCHC award of any kind. Smith picked up his second Goaltender of the Week honor of the season and third career NCHC weekly award.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Henrik Borgström, Denver
Sophomore Forward
Helsinki, Finland

Borgström compiled five points in a split with North Dakota as he continues to lead the country, averaging 2.00 points per game, while stretching his point streak to 11 games. In Friday’s 5-4 loss, the Florida Panthers draft pick dished out the primary assist on DU’s second goal, which came on the power play, while putting two shots on goal. The following night, Borgström matched a season high with four points, as he had a hand in all four goals in the 4-1 victory. He scored DU’s first and fourth goals on the power play, the first of which tied the game at 1-1, while setting up the game-winning goal and also handing out a helper on the third goal. Borgström put six shots on goal Saturday, when he was +1, helped DU go 3-for-8 on the power play and earned the game’s First Star. The Finn finished the weekend with two goals and three assists, including four power play points, and put eight shots on goal. He leads the NCAA with 13 goals this season.

Defenseman of the Week

Scott Perunovich, Minnesota Duluth
Freshman Defenseman
Hibbing, Minn.

Perunovich continued his strong rookie campaign with three points from the blue line in a split at Miami, while helping limit the RedHawks to four goals in the two games. In Friday’s 3-1 win, he tied a career high with two points, picking up the lone assist on UMD’s first goal, while sealing the victory with a goal from the point late in the third period. He was also +2 on the night and earned Second Star of the Game. On Saturday, Perunovich again set up the Bulldogs’ first goal in the first period and was again +2 in a 3-2 defeat, while leading a penalty kill that was 3-for-3. He finished the weekend with a goal, two assists, a +4 plus-minus, two shots on goal and two blocked shots. The Hibbing, Minn. native also helped UMD’s penalty kill finish 7-for-8 in the series.

Rookie of the Week

Easton Brodzinski, St. Cloud State
Freshman Forward
Blaine, Minn.

Brodzinski had a breakout series, enjoying the best weekend of his young collegiate career in a sweep of Colorado College. Entering with only one point (a goal) all season in seven games, the rookie put up four points in two wins over the Tigers. On Friday, Brodzinski logged his first collegiate multi-point game with a goal and an assist, scoring the game’s first tally, while handing out the primary helper on SCSU’s fifth goal in the 6-1 victory. He posted a +2 plus-minus and earned First Star of the Game. The next night, Brodzinski repeated himself with another goal and an assist, again nabbing First Star of the Game honors. He scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period and added a primary assist on another power play goal to make it 4-1 in the 5-1 win. The younger brother of former SCSU standout Jonny Brodzinski, Easton finished the series with two goals, two assists, +2 and put four shots on goal.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Jeff Smith, St. Cloud State
Junior Goaltender
Maple Ridge, B.C.

Smith backstopped the Huskies to a sweep of Colorado College as SCSU remained perfect at home this season. He allowed only one goal in each game, both on the power play, as he did not surrender an even-strength goal in the series, while taking a shutout into the third period both nights. On Friday, CC’s lone tally came on the power play early in the third period, as Smith compiled 21 saves in the 6-1 win. The next night in a 5-1 victory, Smith made 22 more saves with the Tigers’ finally getting on the board 6:20 into the final frame with the man advantage. He finished the series with 43 saves on 45 shots faced for a .956 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average. Smith dropped his season GAA from 2.21 to 1.87 in the sweep.

OTHER NOMINEES:

Offensive Player of the Week
Hugh McGing, So., F, WMU – Tallied four points and a +3 in a sweep of Omaha, scoring a goal and dishing out an assist Friday, while adding two more helpers, including on the game-winner, Saturday.

Carson Meyer, So., F, Miami – Scored a goal in each game of a split with UMD, tallying Miami’s only goal in a loss Friday and putting MU in front for good in Saturday’s win.

Defenseman of the Week
Luke Bafia, So., D, WMU – Dished out three assists, was +4 and blocked five shots in a sweep of Omaha, handing out one assist Friday and two on Saturday, including on the game-winning goal.

Louie Belpedio, Sr., D, Miami – Handed out two assists in a split with UMD with one helper each night, while putting seven shots on goal and blocking two shots with an even plus-minus in the series.

Will Borgen, Jr., D, SCSU – Scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Friday’s 6-1 win over CC, while posting a +4 plus-minus and blocking four shots in the series sweep.

Christian Wolanin, Jr., D, UND – In Friday’s win at Denver, assisted on the game-tying goal and scored a go-ahead goal, while putting eight shots on goal and blocking six shots in the two-game split series.

Rookie of the Week
Ian Mitchell, Fr., D, Denver – Chipped in three power play assists in a spilt with UND, handing out one helper in Friday’s loss and a pair in Saturday’s win, while blocking three shots in the two games.

Goaltender of the Week
Ben Blacker, So., G, WMU – Backstopped WMU to a sweep of Omaha, compiling 51 saves in the two wins for a .944 save percentage, while allowing three goals for a 1.50 GAA.

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