This week’s honourees were all clutch postseason performers as they turned in key outings for their teams during conference tournaments last week with three of the four advancing to the final weekend of play.
Hockey East Co-Rookie of the Week
Josh Nadeau – Freshman – University of Maine (Penticton Vees)
The elder Nadeau brother tallied four points in Maine’s 5-0 quarterfinal win over New Hampshire, scoring two goals, including the game-winning strike, and added two assists while firing seven shots on net.
Nadeau played the previous two years with the Penticton Vees, winning back-to-back championships alongside his brother Bradly. In 2022-23, he finished second in the BCHL with 44 goals, 66 assists and 110 points in 54 games. In last year’s postseason, he tied for the league lead with 35 points in 17 games on 16 goals and a league-best 19 helpers. At season’s end, he was awarded the Bob Fenton Trophy as the BCHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Hockey East Co-Rookie of the Week
Bradly Nadeau – Freshman – University of Maine (Penticton Vees)
Nadeau tallied four points in Maine’s 5-0 quarterfinal win over New Hampshire as he scored two goals and added two assists. He had an assist on the game-winning goal and recorded three shots on net.
Nadeau played for the Penticton Vees for two seasons from 2021 to 2023 and helped the team to back-to-back Fred Page Cup championships. In 2022-23, he led the league in scoring with 113 points in 54 games and earned the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy for league MVP. His 17 postseason points last spring tied for the league lead and his 17 goals were the most in the BCHL Playoffs. As a result, he won the first-ever Jeff Tambellini Trophy for playoff MVP. He was drafted in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week
Brett Rylance – Sophomore – American International College (Chilliwack Chiefs)
Rylance led Atlantic Hockey in scoring during the conference semifinals with four points on three goals and an assist. The Edmonton, Alta. native scored the Yellow Jackets first goal of the series on Friday and posted back-to-back two-point performances as AIC rallied to defeat Holy Cross in three games. Two of his goals in the series came on the power play.
The 22-year-old played four seasons with the Chilliwack Chiefs from 2018 to 2022. He suited up for a total of 169 regular-season games, putting up 87 points.
CCHA Goaltender of the Week
Ethan Langenegger – Senior – Lake Superior State University (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Langenegger recorded a conference-high 34 saves with a .919 save percentage last week, as the seventh-seed Lakers fell to top-seed Bemidji State 4-1. He made double-digit saves in each period, including a game-high 14 in the second, helping the Lakers stay within striking distance.
The 2000-born goalie played two seasons with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks from 2018 to 2020, suiting up for 80 games. In his final year with the team, he posted a record of 23-15-3, a .908 save percentage, a 2.79 goals-against and three shutouts.
