NAHL Alumni Update

In his first game with UMass, forward Janesville Jets goalie Cole Brady posted a shutout in a win over Union.

Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Week: Guy Blessing, Air Force (Lone Star/Topeka) - Air Force’s Guy Blessing led the Falcons to their first home win and first conference victory of the season against RIT on Thursday. The Chandler, Ariz., native made 28 saves against the Tigers, including 14 saves in the third period as he blanked RIT over the final 23 minutes of the game. He made a career high 38 saves in game two and allowed just five even-strength goals in the series. This is Blessing’s first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.

Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week: Blake Humphrey, F, Sacred Heart (New Jersey Titans) - Sacred Heart’s Blake Humphrey contributed a goal and an assist to the Pioneer offense in SHU’s road split at Niagara. The Syracuse, N.Y., native registered the primary assist on the Pioneers’ second goal on Friday and tied Saturday’s contest with a second-period tally as Sacred Heart went on to a 5-1 win. This is his first career Atlantic Hockey weekly honor.

CCHA Forward of the Week: AJ Vanderbeck, Northern Michigan (Lone Star Brahmas) - Vanderbeck led the Wildcats to a split with Alaska Anchorage last week, recording a CCHA-best four points on two goals and two assists. He scored two goals, including a power-play tally with two helpers in a 9-1 victory over the Seawolves on Friday night, before registering a game-high nine shots on Saturday. For the week, he was even with a league-best 17 shots on goal.

CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Ethan Gauer, St. Thomas (Bismarck Bobcats) - Gauer netted his first two goals of the year in the Tommies’ weekend series at No. 18 Penn State, while posting a +2 rating. On Friday, he netted one goal on three shots, with one block at the defensive end. He then scored to bring St. Thomas level with the Nittany Lions in the second period on Saturday, before Penn State won in overtime, 3-2.

CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Mattias Sholl, Bemidji State (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) - Sholl helped the Beavers to a five-point weekend, going 1-0-1 with a 1.93 goals against average and a .909 save percentage, while making a total of 40 saves in 124:40 minutes. On Friday, he made 17 stops in a 5-2 victory over Michigan Tech, before turning away 23 in a 2-2 tie on Saturday. He backstopped Bemidji State to a shootout win in Game 2 for the extra point in the CCHA standings.

CCHA Rookie of the Week: Lleyton Roed, Fr, Bemidji State (Minnesota Magicians) - Roed paced all conference skaters with three goals on the weekend, to go along with one assist for four points. He erupted for three points (2 goals, 1 assist), including his first collegiate goal on Friday night in the Beavers come-from-behind 5-2 victory over Michigan Tech, before scoring again on Saturday in a 2-2 tie. For the week, he was a +4 with 10 shots on goal and one block at the defensive end of the ice.

ECAC Rookie of the Week: Ryan Taylor, F, Clarkson (Bismarck Bobcats) - Forward Ryan Taylor (Fr., Clarkson) tallied two points in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Mercyhurst. He got started early with an assist on the opening goal just three and a half minutes into the first period, then would score his second goal of the season less than ten minutes later in what would eventually stand as the game-winner.

ECAC Goaltender of the Week: Ethan Haider, Clarkson (Minnesota Magicians) - Ethan Haider (Jr., Clarkson) played more than 120 minutes in goal this weekend, finishing the weekend with an overtime loss and his first win of the season. On Friday, Haider made 16 saves but the Golden Knights would ultimately fall three and a half minutes into overtime. His 21 saves on 22 shots on Saturday — which included successfully fending off three Mercyhurst power plays — earned him his first win of the season.

Hockey East Player of the Week: Matt Brown, F, Boston University (Odessa Jackalopes) - Matt Brown (Sr., F; Wood Ridge, N.J.) registered a career-best four points (2g, 2a) in a 5-2 win over #13/14 UConn on Saturday night, including the game-winning strike. It was Brown’s first two-goal game as a Terrier and he now leads Hockey East with nine points (5g, 4a).

Hockey East Goalie of the Week: Cole Brady, UMass (Janesville Jets) - Cole Brady (Jr., G; Pickering, Ont.) pitched his first NCAA shutout in his UMass debut, stopping all 32 shots he faced in Saturday’s 7-0 win over Union. He made nine saves on the power play, denying all six extra-attack- er opportunities for the Dutchmen.

ECHL Goalie of the Week: Dryden McKay, Newfoundland Growlers (Corpus Christi, Springfield) - McKay went 2-0-0 with a 2.16 goals-against average and a save percentage of .931 in two appearances against Reading last week. Under contract to Toronto of the American Hockey League, McKay stopped 25 shots in a 4-2 win on Friday and made 29 saves in a 6-2 victory on Sunday.