Five of six NCAA hockey conferences have kicked off their 2020-21 campaigns, which means it’s now time to start handing out weekly awards. In this week’s roundup, we highlight the three BCHL alums who took home honours this week.
Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week
Aaron Bohlinger – Freshman – University of Massachusetts (Alberni Valley Bulldogs)
The 20-year-old defenceman registered a pair of assists in his collegiate debut, one coming on the power play and one to set up the game-winning goal in UMass’ 5-1 victory over Connecticut last Friday.
Bohlinger played the 2018-19 season with Alberni Valley where he led all Bulldogs defencemen in scoring with 36 points in 55 regular-season games.
Hockey East Rookie of the Week
Cassidy Bowes – Freshman – University of Connecticut (Penticton Vees)
Bowes earned the first two points of his NCAA career last weekend with an assist in each game for the Huskies.
The Kelowna, B.C. native played two seasons with Penticton from 2017 to 2019 and was an assistant captain in his second year. He notched 57 points in 97 regular-season games over his BCHL career.
WCHA Defenceman of the Week
Dayne Finnson – Junior – University of Alabama-Huntsville (Victoria Grizzlies)
Finnson paced all Chargers defensemen with two points during the weekend series against Robert Morris. Both his points came on the man advantage.
The 23-year-old from Arbourg, Man. spent two seasons with the Grizzlies from 2016 to 2018 and finished sixth in points among BCHL blueliners in his final year with 41 points in 56 games.
Honourable mention:
Big Ten 3rd Star of the Week (Nov. 17)
Kent Johnson – Freshman – University of Michigan (Trail Smoke Eaters)
Johnson tallied five points in his collegiate debut as the Wolverines swept Arizona State on Nov. 14 and 15. He had four assists in his first-ever NCAA game to help Michigan defeat the Sun Devils 8-1 and then found the back of the net the next day to record his first-career goal and the eventual game-winner.
Johnson was last year’s BCHL MVP and leading scorer after putting up 101 points in 52 games. He was named a First-Team All-Star, the league’s most sportsmanlike player and also won the CJHL’s Top Forward award. Through two seasons with Trail, the Port Moody, B.C. native registered 147 points in 112 regular-season games.
