This week’s NCAA Roundup, presented by Johnston Meier Insurance, features five BCHL alumni who were recognized with weekly awards in their respective conferences.
Atlantic Hockey Forward of the Week
Carter Wilkie – Sophomore – Rochester Institute of Technology (Chilliwack Chiefs/West Kelowna Warriors)
Wilkie scored an Atlantic Hockey weekend-high five points during the Tigers’ two-game road sweep at Arizona State. The Calgary, Alta. native tallied a goal and two assists in Friday’s 5-1 victory over the Sun Devils then recorded two assists in Saturday’s 5-3 win to complete the non-conference sweep. In the faceoff circle, Wilkie won 20 of 39 draws.
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.
Atlantic Hockey Defenceman of the Week
Brandon Koch – Senior – Air Force Academy (Wenatchee Wild)
Koch recorded three points on a goal and two assists to help Air Force end a nine-game losing streak in their series against Niagara. The Hastings, Minn. native had the primary assist on the game-winning goal in Friday’s 6-3 victory and scored an empty-netter to give the Falcons a two-goal lead late in the third period. On Saturday, he dished out the primary assist on Air Force’s only goal of the night. Koch blocked six shots in the two games.
The 24-year-old played one season for the Wenatchee Wild in 2018-19, finishing in a tie for eighth in BCHL defencemen scoring with 38 points in 58 games played.
CCHA Forward of the Week
Mack Byers – Junior – University of St. Thomas (Trail Smoke Eaters)
Byers led all CCHA skaters with four points on three goals and one assist, helping St. Thomas to a four-point weekend against first-place Bowling Green. On Thursday, he scored two goals, including the game-winner with one assist, four shots on goal and one block at the defensive end, leading the Tommies to a 4-2 victory. He then scored a goal on Friday as well. For the week, he was a +4 while totaling seven shots on goal and winning 52.4 per cent (22-of-42) of his face-offs.
The 23-year-old spent parts of two seasons with the Trail Smoke Eaters from 2017 to 2019, totaling 21 goals, 12 assists and 33 points in 74 regular-season games.
CCHA Defenceman of the Week
Akito Hirose – Junior – Minnesota State University (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Hirose paced all conference blueliners with four points on two goals and two assists, helping the Mavericks take five of six points from their weekend series against Lake Superior State. On Friday, he scored the overtime-winning goal and added an assist for two points in a 3-2 Minnesota State victory. He then had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win on Saturday. For the weekend, he was +3 with two game-winning tallies and three shots on goal.
Hirose played four seasons in the BCHL, all with the Silverbacks, suiting up for a total of 208 regular-season games for the team. During his final season in 2019-20, he led all blueliners in scoring with 51 points in 57 games and was named the league’s Top Defenceman at year’s end.
ECAC Hockey Forward of the Week
Hubbarde had a five-point week for Big Green, helping the squad to their first weekend sweep of the season as they brought down both Brown and Yale on the road. On Friday, Hubbarde assisted on Dartmouth’s equalizer against Brown, then followed up the performance with a four-point night on Saturday against Yale, during which he contributed to all four of his team’s goals. Hubbarde scored a goal of his own on the power play and added three helpers in the team’s 4-0 shutout of the Bulldogs.
The Pickering, Ont. product played one season in the BCHL, joining the Langley Rivermen partway through the 2019-20 campaign. Hubbarde registered 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 35 games down the stretch for the Rivermen and also contributed three points in four postseason contests.
