A new month means there are both weekly and monthly conference award winners to recognize, with six different BCHL alumni getting honoured. Get caught up in this week’s NCAA Roundup, presented by CWENCH Hydration.
CCHA Forward of the Month
Liam Malmquist – Senior – University of St. Thomas (Penticton Vees)
Malmquist led all CCHA skaters in points (13) and points per game (1.44) during January, scoring six goals with seven assists. He recorded a conference-best five multi-point games and was fourth in shots (30). Putting together a six-game point streak that included five contests with multiple points, his month was highlighted by netting a hat trick on Jan. 10 against Ferris State in a 9-6 Tommies win.
The Edina, Minn. native played two BCHL seasons with the Penticton Vees from 2019 to 2021, totaling 64 points in 78 games.
CCHA Forward of the Week
Ethan Scardina – Graduate – Bowling Green State University (Cowichan Valley/Nanaimo)
Scardina posted a CCHA-best four points last week on two goals and two assists, helping Bowling Green take five out of six points at Northern Michigan. The Falcons captain had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 overtime win on Friday, before netting the game-winner with another helper on Saturday in a 5-2 victory.
The 2000-born forward played three seasons in the BCHL from 2017 to 2020. He spent his rookie year with the Cowichan Valley Capitals before moving on to the Nanaimo Clippers for his final two campaigns. During his stint in Nanaimo, he totaled 103 points in 104 games and was team captain his final season in the league.
ECAC Hockey Defender of the Month
C.J. Foley – Sophomore – Dartmouth College (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Foley recorded four goals and four assists in eight January games. The Hanover, Mass. native is tied for the most points on the Big Green with eight games left in the regular season. Last year’s ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year has already surpassed his career-high points total with four weekends left in the year.
The 20-year-old played the 2022-23 campaign with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks where he led the team in points from the back end, putting up seven goals and 20 assists in 48 regular-season games. He was also productive during Salmon Arm’s postseason run, contributing eight points in 14 games.
Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week
Ajeet Gundarah – Freshman – Sacred Heart University (Langley/Surrey)
Gundarah picked up two wins and made a total of 69 saves on 73 shots last week, good for a save percentage of .945. The 21-year-old stopped 38 of 40 shots in Friday’s 3-2 win, then made another 31 saves on 33 shots in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory. Gundarah was clutch down the stretch in both games, as he went a perfect 20 for 20 on save opportunities in the third period and stopped all four shots he faced in overtime on Saturday. The Richmond, B.C. native leads Atlantic Hockey with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage on the season.
The Richmond, B.C. native played three seasons in the BCHL from 2021 to 2024, the first two with the Langley Rivermen and the third with the Surrey Eagles. In his final season, Gundarah led the league with a .931 save percentage, had the second-best goals-against average at 2.14 and helped guide the Eagles to their first Fred Page Cup championship since 2013. He was rewarded with the Michael Garteig Trophy as the league’s Top Goaltender.
Hockey East Rookie of the Week
Logan Sawyer (F) – Freshman – Providence College (Brooks Bandits)
Sawyer scored the opening goal in Friday’s 3-3 tie against UConn and added two assists in the rematch on Saturday, a 6-3 win on the road.
The 18-year-old from Orangeville, Ont. spent the 2023-24 campaign with the Brooks Bandits where he put up 19 points in 20 regular-season BCHL games. He stepped his game up even more in the postseason, leading the Alberta Division in scoring with 15 points in 12 playoff contests and guiding his team to the Alberta Cup, as well as a Rocky Mountain Challenge victory. Following the season, Sawyer was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
NCHC Rookie of the Week
Owen Beckner (F) – Freshman – Colorado College (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Beckner continued his strong play of late, totaling three points in a split with Western Michigan. He scored the Tigers lone goal in Friday’s 4-1 loss, then dished out a pair of assists the next night in a 3-2 overtime win. The Ottawa Senators draft pick handed out the primary assist on the game’s first goal, then helped secure the victory with a helper on the overtime game-winner.
Beckner played two seasons in the BCHL with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks from 2021 to 2023. His most productive season came in 2022-23 when he scored 17 goals and added a team-best 33 assists for 50 points in 53 games, tying him for first in Silverbacks scoring.
