Photo credits: Ed Maillard (Briere), BSU Photo Services (Driscoll), Mark Kuhlmann (Scheel)
Another week, another batch of BCHL alumni making noise in the college hockey ranks. This week, five former players from the league earned weekly conference honours.
ECAC Player of the Week
Kaden Pickering – Junior – St. Lawrence University (Chilliwack Chiefs)
Pickering led the league with three goals and added a pair of assists for a five-point week. He recorded a point in each of the Saints three games against Colgate last week. In Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Raiders, he scored two goals, including the game-winner, while adding an assist.
The 22-year-old from Madrid, N.Y. spent the 2017-18 season with Chilliwack, finishing his year with 27 points in 54 regular-season games. That season, he was also a big part of the Chiefs RBC Cup National Championship win on home ice, scoring three goals and adding an assists in six tournament games.
Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Week
Trevin Kozlowski – Senior – Army (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Kozlowski anchored the Army defense to a pair of road victories over Holy Cross last week. He allowed two early first-period goals, but settled in after that, stopping every shot he faced the rest of the way, enabling the Black Knights to come back and win 3-2. On Friday, Kozlowski stopped 23 of 24 shots in a 4-1 Army victory.
The 23-year-old from Santa Clarita, Calif. spent the 2016-17 season with the Silverbacks, winning nine games and earning one shutout.
Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week
Carson Briere – Freshman – Mercyhurst University (Trail Smoke Eaters)
Briere was second in rookie scoring in Atlantic Hockey last week, registering three points on a goal and an assist as the Lakers swept Robert Morris. He had a hand in both regulation goals for Mercyhurst in Tuesday’s 3-2 win, scoring once and assisting on the game’s first goal. Briere had a single assist in Saturday’s victory.
The son of longtime NHLer Daniel Briere, Carson joined the Smoke Eaters midseason in 2019-20 and finished his lone BCHL campaign with 12 points in 24 games.
This is his third Rookie of the Week honour this season.
NCHC Goalie of the Week
Adam Scheel – Junior – University of North Dakota (Penticton Vees)
Scheel was dominant once again against Colorado College, allowing only one goal all weekend while backstopping North Dakota to a sweep. He totaled 18 stops in a 4-1 win Saturday, then made 15 more saves Sunday in a 5-0 victory for his NCHC-leading third shutout of the season and sixth of his career. Scheel was also key on the penalty kill, helping UND finish a perfect 9-for-9 in the series.
The 21-year-old from Lakewood, Ohio had a 19-12-3 record in 2017-18 with Penticton and was named a Second-Team All-Star after finishing with the second-best goals-against average in the league with a mark of 2.08 and the fourth-highest save percentage at .927.
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Zach Driscoll – Senior – Bemidji State University (Penticton Vees)
Driscoll led Bemidji State to a home sweep over Bowling Green last week. The Apple Valley, Minn. native allowed just two goals in the series and backstopped a BSU penalty-kill unit that was a perfect 4-for-4. After posting a 25-save victory in Thursday’s 2-1 victory, Driscoll stopped 32 shots on Friday as the Beavers completed the sweep with a 3-1 win. This is Driscoll’s seventh career WCHA weekly honour.
The 23-year-old played the 2015-16 season in Penticton and led the BCHL in both save percentage (.933) and goals-against average (1.90), while recording five shutouts and finishing the year with a record of 21-4-0. His save percentage that year is tied for the fifth-best mark all-time for a single season, while his goals-against average is the seventh-lowest in BCHL history. Driscoll ended up winning the BCHL’s Top Goaltender award.