Photo credits: BSU Photo Services (Sillinger), Rob Rasmussen (de Jong)
This week, we take a look at five BCHL alums who received conference awards over the last several days, highlighted by a pair of players who dazzled with four-goal performances.
Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Month
Trevin Kozlowski – Senior – Army West Point (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Kozlowski came on during the month of January, leading Army to a winning month and a fourth-place position in the Atlantic Hockey standings. He went 5-1-1 in seven starts, ranking third in the league in save percentage and goals against average. He allowed two or fewer goals six times, with four of the six resulting in wins. The other two came in a loss against AIC and a shootout win over Sacred Heart.
The 23-year-old from Santa Clarita, Calif. spent the 2016-17 season with the Silverbacks, winning nine games and earning one shutout.
WCHA Player of the Week
Owen Sillinger – Junior – Bemidji State University (Penticton Vees)
Sillinger keyed the Beavers attack in its 7-2 victory over Ferris State on Saturday with a four-goal, one-assist performance that was BSU’s first natural hat trick since Dec. 7, 2018, the program’s first four-goal game since Dec. 3, 2005 and first five-point night since Jan. 7, 2007. The four goals led the WCHA on the weekend, while his five points tied for the weekend high.
Sillinger, the son of former NHLer Mike Sillinger, played three years with the Vees from 2015 to 2018, putting up 153 points in 171 regular-season games. He was named captain in his final BCHL season and led the team in scoring with 67 points, good enough to tie him for sixth overall in the league.
This is Sillinger’s fifth career WCHA weekly honor.
Hockey East Player of the Week
Angus Crookshank – Junior – University of New Hampshire (Langley Rivermen)
Crookshank posted four goals and one assist for five points against UMass Lowell in a 7-6 overtime win on Saturday. He forced overtime by tying the contest at 11:52 of the third to record his first collegiate hat trick, then he scored the game-winning goal in overtime, completing UNH’s comeback from a 6-3 deficit. Crookshank has four career overtime goals which is second in college hockey among active players.
The 2018 Ottawa Senators draft pick played two full seasons in Langley from 2016 to 2018. Crookshank finished his BCHL career with 67 points in 77 regular-season games. He also played in the 2017 World Junior A Challenge for Canada West and finished second in team scoring with five points in five games en route to a gold medal.
Hockey East Rookie of the Week
Vincent Duplessis – Freshman – Boston University (Merritt Centennials)
Duplessis began his NCAA career with a bang on Saturday night, backboning the Terriers to a win over top-ranked Boston College. In his collegiate debut, he made 40 saves to help the Terriers earn a 3-1 victory over the Eagles, making double-digit saves in each period.
The 21-year-old played two years in Merritt, but got the majority of his action in during the 2018-19 season where he had a 9-8-1 record in 20 appearances and finished with a .906 save percentage.
ECAC Player of the Week
Ethan de Jong – Junior – Quinnipiac University (Prince George Spruce Kings)
De Jong recorded three points in his team’s weekend sweep of St. Lawrence, tying for the league lead. He scored in each game, including the game-winner in a 2-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. With 10 goals so far this season, de Jong has already tied his career high and currently ranks eighth in the NCAA.
From North Vancouver, B.C., de Jong played two seasons in Prince George from 2016 to 2018. During the 2017-18 campaign, he finished ninth in league scoring with 63 points and fifth in assists with 46. In the playoffs that year, he led the Spruce Kings to an appearance in the Fred Page Cup Final and finished third in postseason scoring with 27 points in 24 contests.
