Photo credits: Kelly Shea (Christensen), Russ Hons (Scheel)
This week in the NCAA Roundup presented by Lordco, there were three BCHL alums honoured with weekly conference awards in the NCAA, including a goaltender taking home his fourth recognition already this season.
ECAC Hockey Player of the Week
Connor McCarthy – Junior – Clarkson University (Chilliwack Chiefs)
The 23-year-old made the most of the Golden Knights’ lone game this weekend, playing a part in all three Clarkson goals in the win over St. Lawrence. The defenceman scored a career-high two goals, both of which came on the power play, and also dished out an assist on the eventual game-winner.
McCarthy played two seasons in Chilliwack from 2015 to 2017, totaling 59 points in 110 career regular-season games.
Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week
Blake Christensen – Senior – American International College
Christensen continued his torrid pace for the Yellow Jackets, notching two goals and five assists for seven points in three games, the most points of any player in the country this week. That included back-to-back three-point games against Canisius, as he had three helpers in a 6-0 win on Friday and then two goals and an assist, including the overtime winner, as the team rallied from down 2-0 in the third to win 3-2 in extra time. With his assist Tuesday against Sacred Heart, he reached the 100-point mark for his collegiate career.
The Rochester Hills, Mich. native played the 2015-16 season in Wenatchee where he had 36 points in 52 regular-season games and another eight in 10 playoff contests.
NCHC Goalie of the Week
Adam Scheel – Sophomore – University of North Dakota (Penticton Vees)
Once again Scheel was stellar in net to backstop North Dakota to a pair of road wins, allowing only two goals all weekend in a sweep at then No. 17 Western Michigan. On Friday, he made a career-high 41 saves to record his second shutout of the season and third of his career and UND needed all 41, pulling out a 1-0 win in overtime. Nineteen of Scheel’s stops came in the second period, while 15 came short-handed throughout the game to help kill all five WMU power plays. Scheel earned first star honours Friday. On Saturday, he made 27 more saves, conceding only two goals, including just one even strength, both coming in the third period of an 8-2 victory. Scheel was tabbed third star of the game on Saturday. He finished the weekend 2-0 with a shutout, a .971 save percentage and a 0.97 goals-against average, while totaling 68 saves on 70 shots faced. This season, Scheel leads the NCHC with a 14-1-2 record, a 1.56 GAA and a .927 save percentage, having played every minute in net for UND.
This is Scheel’s third NCHC Goalie of the Week honour, and second in a row, to go along with his November Goalie of the Month award.
The 20-year-old from Lakewood, Ohio had a 19-12-3 record in 2017-18 with Penticton and was named a Second-Team All-Star after finishing with the second-best goals-against average in the league with a mark of 2.08 and the fourth-highest save percentage at .927.
NCAA Milestones
A handful of freshmen alums also scored their first NCAA goal in recent weeks.
- Carter Berger – Connecticut – Dec. 7 vs. Vermont
- Jacques Bouquot – Vermont – Dec. 7 vs. Connecticut
- Ben Brar – Merrimack – Nov. 30 vs. RPI
- Brandon Koch – Air Force – Dec. 6 vs. Holy Cross
- Ryan Miotto – Canisius – Nov. 30 vs. Army
