In this week’s NCAA Roundup presented by Johnston Meier Insurance, three BCHL alumni are awarded weekly conference recognition.
Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week
Carter Wilkie (F) – Sophomore – Rochester Institute of Technology (Chilliwack Chiefs/West Kelowna Warriors)
Wilkie turned in a five-point weekend in the Tigers home-and-home split with Canisius. The Calgary, Alta. native assisted on RIT’s lone goal and won 15-of-24 faceoffs in Friday’s overtime home defeat before a two-goal, two-assist night in at 10-4 road win to close out the series. He also blocked two shots and won 14-of-23 faceoffs in Saturday’s victory. This is Wilkie’s ninth career Atlantic Hockey weekly honour and his second this year.
The 22-year-old forward played three seasons in the BCHL, split between the Chilliwack Chiefs and West Kelowna Warriors. Over his career, he notched 87 points in 127 regular-season games.
Hockey East Goaltender of the Week
Mitch Benson – Graduate – Boston College (Victoria Grizzlies)
Benson made more saves than any other NCAA netminder last week, stopping 95 of 100 shots across an unbeaten three-game set. He kicked out 23 attempts in a 4-2 road win on Tuesday, before turning aside a season-high 39 of 40 in a 1-1 draw on Friday. He then stopped 33 of 35 in a 2-2 stalemate on Saturday. His .950 save percentage was tops in all of college hockey among netminders with at least 120 minutes of work.
The 25-year-old played parts of two seasons with the Victoria Grizzlies from 2015 to 2016, making 26 appearances and posting an 8-13-0 record with an .898 save percentage.
CCHA Rookie of the Week
Andrew Noel (D) – Freshman – Ferris State University (Nanaimo Clippers)
Noel helped Ferris State to a sweep at Minnesota State last weekend, scoring a goal and assisting on another for two points. The tally, which was the first of the defenceman’s collegiate career, tied Saturday’s game at 2-2. He then assisted on the eventual game-winner in the third period. For the weekend, he was +1 with three shots on goal and three blocks.
Noel played one season in the BCHL, the 2021-22 campaign with the Nanaimo Clippers, where he scored seven goals and added 10 assists for 17 points in 51 regular-season games and contributed another six assists in 16 playoff games, helping his team to an appearance in the Fred Page Cup Finals.
