Led the nation in shutouts (2) and tied for the lead in wins (3) in December.
Providence's Sandra Abstreiter Named National Goaltender of the Month for December
HCA Announces Monthly Awards

The month of December produced a number of outstanding individual performances from the nation’s college hockey players. And the top two efforts come from the campus of Quinnipiac University.


Men’s Player of the Month: Odeen Tufto, SR Forward, Quinnipiac (Chaska, MN)

Tufto was nothing short of spectacular during the month of December, pacing the nation in scoring with 17 points on three goals and 14 assists. (9GP, 1.9 PPG) His 14 assists helped him surpass the 100-assist mark in his career, becoming just the eighth Bobcat player to accomplish this feat. Six of those assists came in a two-game sweep of AIC.

Runners-Up:
Bobby Trivigno, JR F, Massachusetts (Setauket, NY)
(6 GP, 4-6-10, 1.67 PPG)
Will Calverly, JR F, RIT (Scarborough, ON)
(6 GP, 3-7-10, 1.67 PPG)
Jordan Kawaguchi, SR F, North Dakota (Abbotsford, BC)
(10 GP, 3-10-13, 1.3 PPG)


Women’s Player of the Month: Renee Saltness, SR Forward, Quinnipiac University (Rochester, MN)

Saltness was outstanding in QU’s first two games of the season, averaging 3.0 points per game in racking up 3-3-6 in two Bobcats wins. She went 1-1-2 in a 6-1 win over Sacred Heart and followed that with a four-point game (2-2-4) in a 9-1 win.

Runners-Up:
Anna Klein, SR F, Minnesota-Duluth (Edina, MN)
(2 GP, 2-3-5)
Sara Hjalmarsson, JR F, Providence (Bankeryd, Sweden)
(4 GP, 2-4-6)


Men’s Rookie of the Month: Carter Savoie, FR Forward, Denver (St. Albert, Alberta)

Savoie had a sizzling start to his collegiate career, tallying 11 points in his first 10 games, all taking place in the NCHC Pod, to lead all NCHC freshmen. The 11 points led all NCAA rookies nationally in December, as well. He scored seven goals, which tied for the NCAA lead in December, while chipping in four assists. The Edmonton Oilers draft pick scored four of his goals and seven points on the power play. Savoie recorded a point in eight of his 10 games, including each of his first six outings as a Pioneer, with three multi-point games.

Runners-Up:
Alex Campbell, FR F, Clarkson (Chateaguay, PQ)
(5 GP, 3-7-10, 2.0 PPG)
Matthew Kopperud, FR F, Arizona State (Denver, CO)
(6 GP, 5-3-8, 1.6 PPG)


Women’s Rookie of the Month: Kiara Zanon, FR Forward, Penn State (Fairport, NY)

Zanon has spearheaded a Nittany Lions team that sits at 4-1-1 through its first six games of the year, 2-1-1 in December. She went 2-4-6 in four games, both goals proving to be GWGs. In the second of these games, she scored the winner in OT as PSU earned a comeback 4-3 win, scoring twice in the third to tie the game before Zanon’s OT heroics. She went 1-2-3 in that victory.

Runner-Up:
Nicole Kelly, FR F, New Hampshire (Brantford, ON)
(7 GP, 2-5-7)


Men’s Goaltender of the Month: Blake Pietila, SO Goalie, Michigan Tech (Howell, MI)

Stopped 171 of 179 shots faced in December, registering a 1.43 GAA and .955 save percentage. Began the month with 43 saves in a 3-1 win over #5 Minnesota State and ended with three impressive wins: 3-0 at Bemidji, 4-3 in OT over Bemidji, and 3-1 at NMU.

Runners-Up:
Jack LaFontaine, SR Goalie, Minnesota (Mississauga, ON)
(4 GP, 1.00, 4-0-0, .968)
Ludvig Persson, FR G, Miami (Hindas, Sweden)
(5 GP, 1.19, 2-2-1, .962)
Spencer Knight, SO G, Boston College (Darien, CT)
(2 GP, 0.00, 2-0-0, 1.000)


Women’s Goaltender of the Month: Sandra Abstreiter, JR G, Providence (Freising, Germany)

Abstreiter continued her stellar start to 2020-21 by leading the nation in shutouts (2) and tied for the lead in wins (3) in December. Among goaltenders who played more than two games, Abstreiter led the NCAA in save perecentage (.967) and GAA (0.75). She allowed just three goals in four starts, going 3-1 and stopping 87 of 90 shots. She has allowed two goals or fewer in each of her eight starts while compiling a record of 6-1-1.

Runners-Up:
Raygan Kirk, SO G, Robert Morris (Ste. Anne, MB)
(2 GP, 1.00 GAA, 2-0-0, .970
Emma Soderberg, JR G, Minnesota Duluth (Jarved, Sweden)
(2 GP, 0.00 GAA, 2-0-0, 1.000*)
*Faced 20 shots in 100 minutes of play.