The NCHC announced the Bauer NCHC Players of the week for October 13th-19th. Its no surprise that North Dakota's Mark MacMillan was honored as the league's top offensive player after his seven-point weekend against Colorado College. Teammate Paul LaDue was selected as the top defensive player. Denver's Danten Heinen was named the top rookie, and Nebraska-Omaha goalie Ryan Massa was named goalie of the week for his series sweep, including a Saturday shutout over Western Michigan.
Here's the complete release from the NCHC, including other top performers that were nominated:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mark MacMillan, North Dakota
Senior Forward
Penticton, B.C.
MacMillan had a career weekend, totaling five goals and seven points in a sweep at Colorado College. The Canadiens prospect scored two goals in Friday’s 3-1 win, including one on the power play. Saturday MacMillan was even more impressive, collecting a career-high five points, including his first career hat trick in a 7-2 victory. He became the first UND player to tally five points in a game since Dec. 5, 2008. Two of his three goals on Saturday came short-handed, tying the UND single-game record, while his other came on the power play. MacMillan also added two assists on the power play Saturday and went 14-4 in the faceoff circle. He finished the weekend with a +2 rating and scored the first goal in both games with the Tigers.
DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK
Paul LaDue, North Dakota
Sophomore Defenseman
Grand Forks, N.D.
LaDue totaled five points from the blue line to help UND sweep at Colorado College, while limiting the Tigers to three goals on the weekend. In Friday’s 3-1 win, he dished out an assist on the game-winning goal, which also came on the power play, while helping UND go 6-for-7 on the penalty kill. On Saturday he notched a career-high four points on two goals and two assists in a 7-2 victory. Both of his goals came on the power play, as did one assist, while his other helper came short-handed. It was his second career multi-goal game while he led UND with six shots on goal, as well, Saturday. The Kings prospect finished +1 on the weekend with three blocked shots and led a penalty kill unit that went 9-for-11.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Danton Heinen, Denver
Freshman Forward
Langley, B.C.
Heinen tallied his first career points as a Pioneer in a sweep of RPI, racking up three assists on the weekend. In Friday’s 3-0 shutout he dished out an assist for his first collegiate point on DU’s first goal of the game (and season), which turned out to be the game-winner. The next night, he picked up two more helpers in a 4-1 victory, with one of the assists coming on the power play. The Bruins prospect finished with a +2 rating in the series, going +1 each night, while putting three shots on goal and blocking two shots in the series.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Massa, Omaha
Senior Goaltender
Littleton, Colo.
Massa backstopped Omaha to a sweep in its NCHC-opening series at Western Michigan, going 2-0 on the weekend, while compiling a .965 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average in the two games. In Friday’s 5-2 win, he compiled 37 saves, the third-highest total of his career, while helping UNO go 7-for-7 on the penalty kill. The next night, he stopped all 18 shots he faced to pitch his first shutout of the season and third of his career. Massa totaled 55 saves on 57 shots against the Broncos while leading Omaha to a perfect 10-for-10 penalty kill in the series.
OTHER NOMINEES:
Offensive Player of the Week
Jake Guentzel, So., F, Omaha – Racked up four points and a +3 rating to lead UNO to a sweep at Western Michigan with a goal and an assist in both games, assisting on the game-winner Friday while scoring the game-winner Saturday.
Zac Larraza, Sr., F, Denver – Totaled four points in a sweep of RPI on three goals and an assist, including two points Friday and two goals on Saturday, while posting a +2 rating on the weekend.
Alex Wideman, Sr., F, Miami – Totaled three points and a +2 rating in a sweep of Ohio State, notching a power play goal and an assist in Friday’s 5-1 win, while scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win Saturday.
Defenseman of the Week
Louie Belpedio, Fr., D, Miami – Compiled a pair of points in a sweep of Ohio State, assisting on a power play goal Friday, while scoring the tying goal in a 2-1 win Saturday, while he was +3 on the weekend with a blocked shot and helped MU go 5-for-7 on the penalty kill.
Carson Soucy, So., D, UMD – Compiled three points and a +5 rating in a split with Minnesota State, scoring his first career goal and adding an assist in Friday’s loss when he was +3, while tallying another goal in the win Saturday and blocking three shots for four blocks on the weekend.
Nolan Zajac, Jr., D, Denver – Dished out a pair of assists on the power play in a sweep of RPI with one in each game, while posting a +1 rating, blocking a shot and helping DU go 9-for-10 on the penalty kill in the series.
Rookie of the Week
Louie Belpedio, Fr., D, Miami – Compiled a pair of points in a sweep of Ohio State, assisting on a power play goal Friday, while scoring the tying goal in a 2-1 win Saturday, while he was +3 on the weekend with a blocked shot and helped MU go 5-for-7 on the penalty kill.
Kasimer Kaskisuo, Fr., G, UMD – In his only start, stopped 36 shots and helped UMD go 6-for-6 on the penalty kill to earn his first collegiate win while giving up just two goals against Minnesota State.
Teemu Kivihalme, Fr., D, CC – Totaled two points and blocked four shots in the series with North Dakota, handing out an assistFriday while scoring a power play goal on Saturday.
Nick Schmaltz, Fr., F, UND – Handed out three assists and was +1 in a sweep of Colorado College, dishing out one helper on Fridaywhile collecting two more assists Saturday, both on the power play, including one on the game-winner.
Goaltender of the Week
Evan Cowley, So., G, Denver – Pitched his first career shutout Friday with 26 saves while making 14 more stops in Saturday’s 4-1 win to complete a sweep of RPI, compiling a .976 save percentage and a 0.51 GAA in the series.
Kasimer Kaskisuo, Fr., G, UMD – In his only start, stopped 36 shots and helped UMD go 6-for-6 on the penalty kill to earn his first collegiate win while giving up just two goals against Minnesota State.
Zane McIntyre, Jr., G, UND – Backstopped UND to a sweep of Colorado College, earning the win both nights while totaling 52 saves, including 31 Friday, for a .945 save percentage with a 1.50 GAA after giving up just three goals in the series.
Jay Williams, Jr., G, Miami – Started both games in a sweep of Ohio State, compiling a .957 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA on the weekend while totaling 45 saves, including 26 Friday, and allowing one goal each night.