Previous Bauer NCHC Players of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – All three NCHC teams that played regular-season games on opening weekend collected weekly honors from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Garnering Bauer NCHC Players of the Week for Oct. 2-3, 2021 are St. Cloud State junior Zach Okabe for Forward of the Week, Miami senior Derek Daschke for Defenseman of the Week, Omaha junior Isaiah Saville for Goaltender of the Week and SCSU forward Mason Salquist for Rookie of the Week.

Forward of the Week

Zach Okabe, St. Cloud State
Junior Forward
Okotoks, Alta.

Okabe powered the Huskies to a sweep of St. Thomas on opening weekend, racking up four points in the two wins. In SCSU’s season-opening, 12-2 win over the Tommies on Saturday, Okabe chipped in three points on a goal and two assists as the Huskies matched a program record and set an NCHC record for goals in a game. The next night, Okabe scored SCSU’s first goal of the game in a 2-0 victory at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., as his goal turned out to be the game-winner on Sunday.

Okabe potted two goals, both on the power play, and chipped in two assists in the series. He also fired five shots on goal in the sweep and finished +1. This is Okabe’s first career Forward of the Week honor and second career NCHC weekly honor, as he was Rookie of the Week as a freshman.

Defenseman of the Week

Derek Daschke, Miami
Senior Defenseman
Troy, Mich.

Daschke anchored the Miami blue line in a season-opening split at Ferris State, while also having a hand in three of the RedHawks’ goals on the weekend. The team captain tied his career high with three assists in Saturday’s season-opening, 7-4 win over the Bulldogs. His other three-assist game came as a sophomore, also against Ferris State on Oct. 18, 2019. Daschke’s first helper tied the game at 2-2, while his second assist came on the power play, again knotting the game at 4-4. His final assist also came a man up to give Miami a 6-4 cushion after 40 minutes.

Daschke totaled three assists on the weekend, with two on the power play. He also fired four shots on goal and blocked a shot in the series. It’s his second career NCHC Defenseman of the Week nod, first earning it as a sophomore, while he was also a one-time Rookie of the Week.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Isaiah Saville, Omaha
Junior Goaltender
Anchorage, Alaska

Saville was strong in net to backstop Omaha to a season-opening split with Lake Superior State. In Saturday’s season opener, Saville compiled 15 saves in a 4-3 overtime defeat. The next night, Saville racked up 24 saves, including nine in the third period, to record his third career shutout in a 3-0 victory. He also anchored a UNO penalty kill that finished a perfect 9-for-9 in the series.

Saville totaled 39 saves on the weekend, compiling a 1.95 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. This is Saville’s second career Goaltender of the Week honor and fourth NCHC weekly honor, as he was a two-time Rookie of the Week in 2019-20, when he also earned his first Goaltender of the Week award.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Mason Salquist, St. Cloud State
Freshman Forward
Grand Forks, N.D.

Salquist shined in his collegiate debut, helping the Huskies sweep St. Thomas on opening weekend. In Saturday’s season opener, he tallied his first career point with an assist on a power play goal in the third period. His helper helped SCSU tie a school record and set an NCHC record for goals in a game as the Huskies topped the Tommies, 12-2.

Salquist went 10-of-14 in the faceoff circle, centering SCSU’s fourth line, good for a 71.4 win percentage. He also fired two shots on goal in Saturday’s win.

OTHER NOMINEES:

Forward of the Week
Matt Miller, So., Omaha
Ryan Savage, Jr., Miami

Defenseman of the Week
Spencer Meier, Sr., SCSU
Brandon Scanlin, Jr., Omaha

Goaltender of the Week
Dávid Hrenák, Gr., SCSU

Rookie of the Week
None

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