Hockey East Weekly Awards: Friars’ Mingoia earns Player of the Week honors

Warrior Player of the Week: Trevor Mingoia, Providence

The No. 2 Friars’ top returning goal scorer opened his senior campaign in impressive fashion, posting six points (two goals, four assists) in two games at No. 18 Miami over the weekend.

Mingoia paced Providence to a 7-3 victory in its season opener on Friday, tallying a career-high four points (two goals, two assists) — highlighted by the Friar’s first penalty-shot goal in nearly two years. The Fairport, New York, native also assisted on both of his team’s goals Saturday in what resulted in a 2-2 draw against the RedHawks.

This stands as the second Player of the Week award (11/14/14) for Mingoia, who is currently tied for the national lead in scoring with Colgate senior forward Tyson Spink.

Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week: Mike Santaguida, Vermont

One of 20 netminders named to the Mike Richter Awards Watch List last week, Santaguida impressed in his season debut, posting a 24-save shutout Saturday night against No. 15 Minnesota at Mariucci Arena.

The victory registered as Santaguida’s fifth career shutout, helping the Catamounts earn a spot on this week’s USCHO.com’s poll at No. 20. Looking ahead, the junior goaltender will have his work cut out for him, as Vermont’s next four games will feature contests against No. 3 Nebraska-Omaha and No. 1 North Dakota.

Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: Austin Plevy, UMass / Max Letunov, UConn

Plevy played a big role in the Minutemen’s sweep of Colorado College over the weekend, scoring game-winning goals in both tilts en route to a five-point showing over his first two collegiate games.

In UMass’ 6-3 win over the Tigers on Friday, Plevy scored a hat trick and chipped in with an assist, while later scoring his fourth goal of the year in the Minutemen’s 4-3 comeback win the following night.

UConn’s Letunov also opened his college career with a bang, scoring a hat trick of his own in the Huskies’ 5-2 win over Alabama Huntsville on Friday. The Arizona Coyotes prospect added an assist on classmate Miles Gendron’s goal in UConn’s 5-2 loss to the Chargers on Saturday.

Plevy and Letunov’s hat tricks were the first by freshmen in their season debuts since Notre Dame’s Anders Lee accomplished the feat in 2010.