COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three different teams are represented among the NCHC Players of the Month for February, announced by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) on Tuesday, with two of them earning their award for the second time this season. The NCHC’s February honorees are Denver junior defenseman Mike Benning for Player of the Month, North Dakota freshman forward Jackson Blake, who repeats as Rookie of the Month, and Miami junior Ludvig Persson, who gloved Goaltender of the Month.
 
Benning was also the NCHC Player of the Month for December, while this is his third career NCHC monthly award, landing the honor for March/April of 2022, as well. Blake captured Rookie of the Month for the second straight month, while Persson picked up his second career Goaltender of the Month honor from the conference, also doing so in December of 2020 as a freshman.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Mike Benning, Denver
Junior Defenseman
St. Albert, Alta.
 
Benning was a beast at both ends of the ice to help Denver to a 6-1-0 record in February. He led all NCHC defensemen with nine points during the month, which was second nationally, while his five goals led all NCHC blueliners and tied for first in the NCAA. His five goals were also tied for second among all NCHC players during the month. He handed out four helpers this month, as well. Benning’s 1.29 points per game in February were first among defensemen nationally, while he recorded at least a point in five of his seven games played, including two multi-point games.
 
Benning opened February with a goal at rival Colorado College on Feb. 4 to help clinch the Gold Pan trophy. After dishing out two assists in a 5-3 win over North Dakota on Feb. 10, the Florida Panthers draft pick started a career-long three-game goal-scoring streak. He tallied a power play goal both nights against Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 17-18, then erupted for a career-high four points, including two goals, in a 5-2 win at then-No. 5 Western Michigan on Feb. 24. He became the first DU defenseman with a four-point game since Jan. 19, 2019, while it was his third multi-goal game this season. Benning earned NCHC Defenseman of the Week for his efforts at WMU, including helping Denver clinch its second straight Penrose Cup.
 
Benning posted a +7 plus/minus in February, which tied for third in the NCHC, and also blocked two shots. Four of his five goals this month came on the power play, with his six power play goals on the season leading all NCAA blue liners. Benning’s 12 goals overall are tied for the NCAA lead among defensemen, while his 32 points, including 20 assists, rank third nationally and first in the NCHC among blueliners.

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Jackson Blake, North Dakota
Freshman Forward
Eden Prairie, Minn.

Blake recorded points in five of his six games in February to repeat as Rookie of the Month. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick tied for the NCHC rookie lead with three goals, five assists and eight points in February, while his 1.33 points per game led all NCHC freshmen in the month and ranked fourth in the NCHC overall. Blake notched a trio of multi-point outings in February and had a five-game point streak during the month that was part of a seven-game point streak dating back to January.
 
Blake opened the month with a three-point weekend against then-No. 4 Denver, dishing out two assists on Feb. 10, while scoring a goal the next night. The following weekend he handed out a trio of assists against No. 6 St. Cloud State, with two coming in the opener on Feb. 17, including the primary helper on the overtime game-winner. Blake then capped his seven-game point streak by scoring both UND goals in a 2-1 win at Colorado College on Feb. 24, including scoring the overtime game-winner. It was his second multi-goal game of the season and second game-winner this season, but first in overtime.
 
Blake finished February with a +3 plus/minus and 20 shots on goal. With his three goals, he now has 15 goals on the season, which is second among NCHC freshmen and 10th overall in the conference. Blake’s 38 points in 33 games are fourth in the NCHC and second among freshmen, while his 27 points in conference play lead all rookies and rank third in the NCHC.

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH
Ludvig Persson, Miami
Junior Goaltender
Hindas, Sweden
 
Persson averaged nearly 39 saves per game for Miami in February, eight more than any other NCHC goalie, while helping the RedHawks earn points in the NCHC standings in four of his five appearances. Persson led the NCHC with a .946 save percentage in February, which was ninth nationally, while his 2.14 goals-against average was second in the conference. The Swede racked up 194 saves in February in only five games, the most saves in the NCHC this month. He went 1-2-2 in net, with one of the losses coming in overtime.
 
Persson backstopped Miami to a pair of ties at then-No. 5 St. Cloud State to open the month on Feb. 3-4, which snapped the RedHawks’ 11-game losing streak at SCSU. He made 30 saves both nights, giving up only one goal in the series finale, while the opener needed a 10-round shootout to decide the extra standings point and Persson turned SCSU aside on the first nine attempts. In his lone game against then-No. 15 Omaha on Feb. 18, he made 49 saves after missing the series opener due to illness, as Miami was edged in overtime, 3-2. Persson saved his best for last, making 35 saves in a 3-2 loss at Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 24, before turning aside a season-high 50 of 51 shots in the finale as Miami snapped a 12-game winless skid with a 4-1 victory. The 50 saves are the most by an NCHC goaltender this season and earned Persson Co-Goaltender of the Week in the NCHC.
 
Miami successfully killed 26 of 27 penalties during Persson’s five February games in net. The junior also moved into the top five in program history for career saves this month. With his strong February, Persson now carries an .899 save percentage and a 3.41 GAA on the season with an 8-16-4 record. His 28.52 saves per game this year lead the NCHC.
 
OTHER NOMINEES:
 
Player of the Month
Jason Polin, Sr., F, Western Michigan
 
Goaltender of the Month
Magnus Chrona, Sr., Denver
Cameron Rowe, Jr., Western Michigan
 
Rookie of the Month
Ben Steeves, F, Minnesota Duluth
Aidan Thompson, F, Denver