This week, we have two BCHL alumni to highlight who won weekly conference awards in the NCAA over the last few days. Get caught up with the NCAA Roundup, presented by Johnston Meier Insurance.
NCHC Forward of the Week
Massimo Rizzo – Sophomore – University of Denver (Penticton, Coquitlam, Chilliwack)
Rizzo led all NCHC forwards with four points last weekend to lead Denver to a sweep of rival North Dakota. In Friday’s 5-3 victory, the Carolina Hurricanes draft pick scored DU’s fourth goal to make it a 4-2 game in the second period. His goal served as the game-winner, while he also fired three shots on goal and was +3 in the win. A night later, Rizzo racked up three points in a 5-2 victory. He setup a power-play goal in the second period to make it 2-0, then had the lone assist on DU’s fourth goal and capped the scoring with his second marker of the weekend, which came unassisted in the final frame.
The 21-year-old from Burnaby, B.C. started his BCHL career with the Penticton Vees where he played for two years. He moved on to the Coquitlam Express the following season and joined the Chilliwack Chiefs during his final year, but missed the pod season due to injury. He notched 123 points in 132 games over his career in the league.
ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week
Yaniv Perets – Sophomore – Quinnipiac University (Penticton Vees)
Perets had another big weekend between the pipes for the Bobcats, going 2-0 to extend the team’s unbeaten streak to six games. With 34 combined saves against Clarkson and St. Lawrence, Perets recorded his fourth and fifth clean sheets of the second half, finishing the week with a perfect 1.000 save percentage and 0.00 goals-against average.
The 22-year-old played the 2019-20 season with the Penticton Vees, posting the third-best goals-against average in the league at 2.19, the second most shutouts with five and a .918 save percentage.
