Previous Players of the Week

OMAHA, Neb. – With the second week of the NCHC Pod at Baxter Arena complete, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference announced its five Bauer Players of the Week for the week of Dec. 7-13, 2020. Garnering NCHC weekly honors for Week 2 are Western Michigan senior Ethen Frank for Forward of the Week, North Dakota senior Matt Kiersted for Defenseman of the Week, UND forward Riese Gaber and Denver forward Carter Savoie for Co-Rookies of the Week, and Miami freshman Ludvig Persson for Goaltender of the Week.

This is Frank’s first career NCHC Forward of the Week honor, but second career weekly award, claiming Rookie of the Week back in 2018. Kiersted collected his fourth career NCHC Defenseman of the Week nod and first this season, but he is the second straight UND blue liner to claim the honor after Ethan Frisch did so in Week 1. These are the first NCHC weekly awards for Gaber, Savoie and Persson.

Forward of the Week

Ethen Frank, Western Michigan
Senior Forward
Papillion, Neb.

Frank helped the Broncos turn around their season in Week 2 of the Pod, tallying five points as Western Michigan went 2-1-1 after an 0-3-0 start. He opened the week on Dec. 8 with an assist in a 3-3 tie with Colorado College, before scoring three goals and four points in the final two games. The Nebraska native book-ended WMU’s goals in a 5-2 win over Colorado College Dec. 11, and notched two more points in a 6-3 defeat to then-No. 1 North Dakota on Dec. 13. His goal against UND got WMU on the board trailing 3-0 and came via a highlight-reel toe drag and snipe. The assistant captain also set up the Broncos’ final goal with the primary assist. Frank finished the week in his home state with three goals, two assists, a +2 plus/minus and 13 shots on goal. On the season, he has six points on four goals and two assists.

Defenseman of the Week

Matt Kiersted, North Dakota
Senior Defenseman
Elk River, Minn.

Kiersted recorded points in all four games for North Dakota in Week 2 of the Pod, scoring a goal and adding four assists, with all his helpers coming on the power play. The UND assistant captain dished out two assists in a loss to then-No. 9 Denver on Dec. 8, while handing out another helper in a 2-2 overtime tie against No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 10. Kiersted potted North Dakota’s first goal in a 5-3 loss to St. Cloud State on Saturday, Dec. 12, before chipping in one more assist on UND’s first goal in a 6-3 win over Western Michigan a day later. He shouldered a heavy load against WMU with UND dressing just five defenders due to injury and the World Junior Championship. Kiersted also blocked an NCHC-best 12 shots in his four games last week and fired 14 shots on goal, in addition to his five points. On the season, he now has seven points (2g, 5a).

Co-Rookie of the Week

Riese Gaber, North Dakota
Freshman Forward
Gilbert Plains, Manitoba

Gaber continued a strong start to his season, scoring three goals and adding an assist in Week 2 of the Pod. He scored UND’s first goal in a 2-2 overtime tie against No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 10, while chipping in his first collegiate assist in a loss to St. Cloud State on Dec. 12. One day later, he recorded his first career multi-point game, scoring two goals in a 6-3 victory over Western Michigan. His first tally Sunday came on the power play and was the game’s first goal, while his second goal served as the game-winner. Gaber fired 14 shots on goal in the four games during Week 2. With his four points on the week, he now has five goals and six points on the season.

Co-Rookie of the Week

Carter Savoie, Denver
Freshman Forward
St. Albert, Alberta

Savoie also continued his scintillating start to his college career with three points in three games, while helping Denver go 2-1-0 in Week 2 of the Pod. He scored the game-winning goal on the power play with 2:02 remaining in regulation to give the Pioneers their first win of the season, a 3-2 victory over top-ranked North Dakota on Dec. 8. Two days later he tallied an even-strength goal, which tied the game at 1-1, and added an assist in a 5-1 victory over Miami. For the first time all season, the Edmonton Oilers draft pick was held pointless in a 4-1 defeat to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 12. He fired nine shots on goal in DU’s three games during the week. Savoie now has eight points, which leads NCHC rookies, on an NCHC-best six goals and two assists this season.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Ludvig Persson, Miami
Freshman Goaltender
Hindas, Sweden

Persson was rock-solid for the RedHawks in Week 2 of the Pod, posting a 1-1-0 record, including backstopping Miami to its first win of the season. In his first start of the week, he made 31 saves and allowed three goals, only two at even strength, in a loss to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the Swede turned away all 30 shots he faced for his first career win and shutout, a 1-0 victory over then-No. 18 Omaha. Persson posted a .953 save percentage in his two starts and a 1.53 goals-against average, stopping 61 of 64 shots faced. He is now 1-2-0 on the season with a .946 save percentage and a 1.68 GAA, both of which lead all rookie netminders nationally.

OTHER NOMINEES:

Forward of the Week
Grant Cruikshank, Jr., Colorado College
Cole Koepke, Jr., Minnesota Duluth
Shane Pinto, So., North Dakota

Defenseman of the Week
Ronnie Attard, So., Western Michigan
Mike Benning, Fr., Denver
Jack Millar, Fr., Colorado College
Nick Perbix, Jr., St. Cloud State
Brandon Scanlin, So., Omaha

Rookie of the Week
Jack Millar, Fr., Colorado College

Goaltender of the Week
Dominic Basse, Fr., Colorado College
Ryan Fanti, So., Minnesota Duluth
Austin Roden, So., Omaha

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