Getting your first NCAA goal is obviously a career highlight but when it’s a game-winner and earns conference player of the week recognition, it makes for an especially sweet moment to savour.
That’s the case for Nanaimo Clippers alum Yanni Kaldis of Cornell University as he potted the winner in an important 4-3 win over RPI Saturday where he also had an assist. He assisted on one of Cornell’s goals the previous night as well, a 5-3 win at Union. Kaldis’ three-point weekend made him an obvious choice for ECAC Hockey’s rookie of the week nod.
Kaldis now has a goal and nine helpers on the season for the Big Red, who are ranked 15th this week in the USA Today poll. The team sits fourth in the ECAC Hockey standings behind Harvard, St. Lawrence and Union.
In two seasons with Nanaimo, Kaldis registered 18 goals and 92 assists for 110 points in 112 career games. He was a BCHL 2nd Team all-star and all-rookie team member in 2014-15. Last season, his 54 assists led the league and he was named a BCHL 1st Team all-star.
