WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Massachusetts freshman goaltender Filip Lindberg (Espoo, Finland) has been named the National Goaltender of the Month after he led the nation in shutouts (4), goals against average (1.19) and backstopped the Minutemen to their first national title game appearance in program history.
Lindberg posted back-to-back shutouts in the NCAA Northeast Regional and was named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance. The Espoo, Finland native did not allow a goal in four of the nine games in which he appeared.
The rookie backstop posted a 6-2-0 record through the season's final two months, racking up a .947 save percentage. He was also twice named the Hockey East Rookie of the Week.
In the national semifinals, Lindberg made a season-best 37 saves in UMass' 4-3 OT win over Denver that sent the Minutemen into the National Championship game.
After leading his team to a second straight National Championship, Minnesota Duluth sophomore defenseman Mikey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.) has been selected the Hockey Commissioners' Association (HCA) National Division I Player of the Month for March and April. The Los Angeles Kings prospect tied for the national scoring lead over the final two months of the season, racking up 14 points in 12 games from the blue line (1.17 ppg).
Anderson dished out an NCAA-best 12 assists in March and April, including 10 to start the month of March during a career-long six-game point streak. Both of his goals over the final month and a half were scored in championship games, the first helping UMD win the NCHC Tournament title as Frozen Faceoff champions, and the second in the Bulldogs' 3-0 win over UMass in the National Championship game. Anderson had a hand in all three goals to help UMD repeat as NCAA champions, assisting on the other two tallies. Four of his 12 helpers in March/April set up game-winning goals.
Anderson was named to both the NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team and NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, while capturing NCHC Defenseman of the Week honors on the penultimate week of the regular season. The Honorable Mention All-NCHC selection blocked 24 shots over the final two months of the season, which tied for second nationally, while posting a +14 plus/minus, which was also second in the NCAA during March and April.
Anderson tallied a point in eight of 12 games in March and April with five multi-point contests to close the season. He ended his sophomore campaign with 27 points on six goals and 21 assists in 40 games. Backstopping his team to the Frozen Four, Denver freshman goaltender Filip Larsson (Stockholm, Sweden) was named the HCA National Division I Rookie of the Month for March and April. The newest member of the Detroit Red Wings organization, who signed last Monday, led the NCAA with a .957 save percentage during the final month and a half of the season, while compiling a 1.22 goals-against average, which ranked second in the country.
Larsson posted a 5-3-0 record (.625 win percentage) in March and April, while recording three shutouts, which was second nationally during that time. The NCHC All-Rookie Team selection pitched all three of his whitewashes in the postseason, after only one in the regular season. His first came in a 32-save effort to open the NCHC Playoffs against North Dakota, while he combined for 50 saves in the NCAA West Regional to blank Ohio State and American International on back-to-back nights March 29-30. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA West Regional and to the All-Region Team.
Larsson compiled 223 saves and allowed only 10 goals in March and April. He finished his only season of college hockey with a 13-6-3 record, a 1.95 GAA and a .932 save percentage, to go with four shutouts.
