COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After leading each of their teams in scoring and to winning records in the month of December, Colorado College sophomore forward Nick Halloran has been selected the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Player of the Month, while Denver freshman forward Jaakko Heikkinen was tabbed the NCHC Rookie of the Month for December. This is the first NCHC monthly honor for either player.
NCHC PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Nick Halloran, Colorado College
Sophomore Forward
Draper, Utah
Halloran racked up eight points in six games, helping the Tigers post a 2-1-3 record in December. He led all NCHC players with six goals during the month, while his 1.00 goals per game in December also led the conference. Halloran tallied a goal in five of his six games during the month with one multi-goal game. He fired 32 shots on goal in the six games with his 5.33 shots on goal per game tops in the NCHC in December.
Halloran opened December strong, recording three points, including two goals for his second career multi-goal game, in a 4-4 tie at then No. 1 Denver Dec. 8. He set up the game-tying goal in the final minute and put 10 shots on goal to earn First Star of the Game. The following weekend the Draper, Utah, native potted a goal each night against Arizona State Dec. 16 and 17, scoring on the power play in the series finale.
Halloran wrapped up his month by stretching his goal-scoring streak to a career-long four games. He notched two points in a loss to Air Force Dec. 29, scoring CC’s first goal and assisting on another, while he scored the game’s first goal in a 2-1 win over Merrimack the next night when he was Second Star of the Game. Halloran was tabbed NCHC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts over his final four games of the month.
On the season, Halloran is tied for fourth nationally and ranks second in the NCHC with 27 points on 11 goals and 16 assists in 20 games.
Halloran is now a candidate for Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Player of the Month for December, which will be announced on Thursday. The other nominees for NCHC Player of the Month were Omaha senior forward David Pope and St. Cloud State junior defenseman Jimmy Schuldt.
NCHC ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Jaakko Heikkinen, Denver
Freshman Forward
Helsinki, Finland
Heikkinen had a breakout month, recording seven points in eight games in December, after entering with only three points all season. His seven points led all NCHC rookies and ranked second nationally among freshmen, while his three goals tied for second in the NCAA during the month among freshmen. The Finn also dished out four assists and had a +1 plus/minus during the month to help DU go 4-2-2.
After being held off the scoresheet in his first series of December, Heikkinen tallied the go-ahead goal in the third period Dec. 8 against Colorado College in an eventual 4-4 tie. The following weekend, the draft-eligible forward compiled three points against Dartmouth. He scored the game’s only goal, and hence the game-winner, on the power play in a 1-0 series-opening win Dec. 15 to earn Second Star of the Game. He then handed out a pair of helpers in the series finale for his first two collegiate assists and his first career multi-point game.
Heikkinen wrapped up December with a career-best three points in a 6-0 shutout of Air Force Dec. 30. He scored a power play goal and dished out two assists, including the primary helper on the game-winning goal and another primary helper on the final goal, while logging a +1 plus/minus. Heikkinen finished December with 10 shots on goal and went 48-36 (.571) in the faceoff circle.
On the season, Heikkinen has 10 points in 20 games, scoring six goals, half of which came in December, and four assists.
Heikkinen is now a candidate for Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Month for December, which will be announced on Thursday.
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