HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES
UConn’s offense exploded for 14 goals in a pair of wins over New Hampshire last weekend, paced by four points from Hockey East Player of the Week Jonny Evans (North Delta, B.C.) Evans had four points (3g, 1a) and has a point in nine of 11 games this season to lead the team in scoring (6g, 7a) with four multi-point outings.
Boston College swept Merrimack in two tightly contested games as Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) improved to 7-0-0 on the year. Knight kicked out a total of 64 shots on the weekend and shined on Friday night, stopping 10 shot in the opening frame and 17 in the third period to preserve a 2-1 win for the Eagles.
Northeastern sophomore netminder Connor Murphy (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) stopped all 37 shots he saw on Wednesday against New Hampshire to earn his first career shutout in a 7-0 victory. The sophomore netminder also earned his first career point while assisting on an even-strength goal in the third period.
Boston University snapped Massachusetts’ seven-game win streak on Sunday,
taking a 4-2 road win on Sunday. Terrier senior captain Logan Cockerill
(Brighton, Mich.) scored a pair of goals and classmate David Farrance
(Victor, N.Y.) provided the game-winner. The teams meet again on Monday
at 3:00 p.m.
HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jonny Evans - UConn
Jonny Evans (North Delta,
B.C.) had four points in a
pair of wins over New Hampshire
over the weekend. On
Friday, he had a goal and an
assist as the Huskies won in
overtime, 6-5. On Saturday,
Evans scored twice, including
a power-play goal, as UConn
posted an 8-3 win for a weekend
sweep. Evans now has a
point in nine of 11 games this
season and leads the team
in scoring (6g, 7a) with four
multi-point outings.
PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nikita Nesterenko - Boston College
Nikita Nesterenko (Brooklyn,
N.Y.) helped the
Eagles move to 8-2-0 on
the season with a goal and
an assist Sunday night in
a 5-3 win at Merrimack.
He scored a shorthanded
tally just 55 seconds into
the second period before
assisting on the game-winning
goal with just four
minute left in regulation. He
now has a point in seven of
10 games.
HOCKEY EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Connor Murphy - Northeastern
Connor Murphy (Hudson
Falls, N.Y.) stopped all 37
shots he saw on Wednesday
against New Hampshire
to earn his first career
shutout in a 7-0 victory. The
sophomore netminder also
earned his first career point
while assisting on Jayden
Struble’s even-strength
goal in the third period.
HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS
Marc McLaughlin, BC (Jr., F; Billerica, Mass.) Turned in his second game-winning performance in as many weeks, scoring the decisive goal as part of a three-point (1g, 2a) day at Merrimack on Sunday in Boston College’s 5-3 win. Mc- Laughlin has scored three winning goals for the Eagles this season.
Spencer Knight, BC (So., G; Darien, Conn.) Earned two more wins last weekend to improve to 7-0-0 on the year, kicking out a total of 64 shots against Merrimack while allowing just four goals against. He shone on Friday night, stopping 10 shot in the opening frame and 17 in the third period to preserve a 2-1 win for the Eagles.
John Spetz, UConn (Fr., D; Oak Ridge, N.J.) Had a goal and two assists as the Huskies dealt New Hampshire a pair of losses over the weekend. In Friday’s 6-5 overtime win, Spetz had his first multi-assist game, dishing out a pair on the power play. On Saturday, he scored his third goal of the season to lead all UConn defensemen. He is the Huskies’ top rookie scorer on the season with five points. The rookie defenseman also blocked eight shots on the weekend.
Vladislav Firstov, UConn (So., F; Yaroslavl, Russia) In his first game back with the Huskies since joining Team Russia for the World Junior Championship, Firstov racked up four points on two goals and two assists to power the Huskies offense to a 6-5 overtime victory over New Hampshire. He added an assist in Saturday’s 8-3 win for a five-point weekend.
Jachym Kondelik, UConn (Jr., F; Budějovice, Czech Republic) Dished out five assists in two games last weekend, including setting up the decisive tally as part of a three-assist game in Friday’s 6-3 overtime win. He now has nine assists in his last five games.
Ben Brar, MC (So., F; Abbotsford, B.C.) The forward secured his first two points of the season over the weekend when he earned the primary assist on Zach Vinnell’s goal Saturday night at BC, then he fired home his first goal Sunday at Lawler Rink on the power play to knot the score at one in the first period. He also had nine shots on goal Saturday and finished with 11 in the series.
Alex Jefferies, MC (Fr., F; Lunenburg, Mass.) The rookie continued to electrify over the weekend against #3 BC. He buzzed around the rink Saturday in Chestnut Hill and finished with eight shots on goal and an assist. The following day, he gave Merrimack a late lead with his team-leading fourth goal of the season and had four more shots for 12 on the series. He’s now tied for fifth in the country in shots on goal per game with 4.62.
Zach Vinnell, MC (So., D; Cochrane, Alta.) The rearguard notched a pair of points on the weekend against Boston College. He tallied his second power play marker of the year Saturday in the loss at Conte Forum. Then, his long flip pass to Alex Jefferies earned him a primary assist. He is now tied for the team lead in defenseman scoring with five points.
Zach Solow, NU (Sr., F; Naples, Fla.) Had two goals and two assists and was a plus-two in a 7-0 win over New Hampshire on Wednesday. His first goal came while the Huskies were shorthanded.
