Photo credits: Russ Hons (Kawaguchi), Skip Hickey (Wicks)
After a quiet week last week for BCHL alums earning weekly conference awards, we are back in business with five former players from the league being named Player of the Week.
ECAC Hockey Player of the Week
Devin Brosseau – Senior – Clarkson University Golden Knights (Nanaimo Clippers)
2GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS
The 24-year-old was instrumental in Clarkson’s split against No. 6/6 Wisconsin this weekend, registering four points on three goals and one assist. The Golden Knights captain registered a goal and assist in Friday’s 4-0 win before finding the back of the net twice more in a tight 4-3 loss on Saturday.
Brosseau, from St. Lambert, Que., played three seasons with the Clippers from 2013 to 2016, totaling 154 points in 144 regular-season games and adding another 25 in 42 careeer playoff games. His best season came in 2015-16 when he finished fourth in league scoring with 84 points.
Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week
Austin McIlmurray – Senior – Sacred Heart University Pioneers (Coquitlam Express)
2GP – 3G – 3PTS
The Coral Springs, Fla. native tallied three goals for the Pioneers at Niagara this past weekend as Sacred Heart swept the Purple Eagles. He had two goals for SHU on Friday night as the Pioneers beat Niagara, 4-0. Then, on Saturday, he had the third Sacred Heart goal in what became a 3-1 win. All three of his goals were scored on the Pioneers power-play.
McIlmurray, 23, played the 2015-16 season in Coquitlam and had 61 points in 57 games.
Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week
Mike Lee – Senior – Sacred Heart University Pioneers (Penticton Vees)
2GP – 5A – 5PTS
Lee recorded five assists in the two game series at Niagara this weekend as he tallied two in Friday’s 4-0 victory while recording three in SHU’s 3-1 win to complete the weekend sweep of the Purple Eagles. Lee also recorded four blocks and finished +3 on the weekend.
The 23-year-old from Hamden, Conn. played the 2014-15 season with the Vees where he had 36 points in 56 regular-season games and won a Fred Page Cup championship.
National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Forward of the Week
Jordan Kawaguchi – Junior – University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (Chilliwack Chiefs)
2GP – 1G – 2A – 3PTS
The 22-year-old powered North Dakota to a sweep of Bemidji State, racking up three points in the pair of wins. On Friday, the assistant captain scored the game-tying goal, his first of the season and UND’s first of the game, with 5:47 left in regulation to force overtime, which the Fighting Hawks went on to win, 2-1. Kawaguchi was +1 with three shots on goal in the overtime win and earned second star of the game. The next night, he assisted on a pair of UND goals in a 4-1 victory, including the primary assist on the game’s first goal only 36 seconds into the contest. He again fired three shots on goal Saturday and finished +2, while nabbing third star of the game. Kawaguchi finished the sweep with a goal, two assists, six shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus. He now has six points on the season (1g, 5a).
After playing a pair of games as an affiliate with the West Kelowna Warriors, Kawaguchi, played four full seasons with the Chilliwack Chiefs from 2013 to 2017, notching 242 points in 215 regular-season games and another 82 in 55 playoff games. The Abbotsford, B.C. native finished second in league scoring in 2016-17 with 85 points in 55 games and was named a First-Team All-Star.
Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Week
Nick Wicks – Freshman – University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves (Merritt Centennials)
2GP – 2G – 1A – 3PTS
Wicks was a major factor in Alaska Anchorage’s 4-0 victory over in-state rival Alaska on Saturday evening. The Delta, B.C., native scored twice and assisted on a third goal in the Seawolves win, which capped off the first weekend of on-campus play for UAA in 36 years. The two goals are the first of Wicks’ career and came on five shots in the contest. Wicks also won a team-high nine faceoffs on the night. This is Wicks’ first WCHA weekly honor.
The 21-year-old played the last three seasons in Merritt and was named team captain last year. He finished his BCHL career with 117 points in 161 regular-season games.
NCAA Milestones
A pair of BCHL alums got their first NCAA goals of their freshmen season last week:
- Brandon Puricelli – Minnesota-Duluth (Wenatchee Wild) – Oct. 25 vs. Minnesota
- Nick Wicks – Alaska-Anchorage (Merritt Centennials) – Oct. 26 vs. Alaska (GWG)
