Photo credit: Ned Dykes/Cornell Athletics (Berard)
Another week another award for Victoria Grizzlies alum Alex Newhook, but this time on a national scale. Plus, Alberni Valley Bulldogs grad Keaton Mastrodonato gets his name on a pair of conference awards and two others are recognized for the second time this year.
National Player of the Month/Rookie of the Month – Hockey East Player of the Month/Rookie of the Month
Alex Newhook – Freshman – Boston College (Victoria Grizzlies)
Newhook led the nation in February with 20 points, 11 assists, two shorthanded goals and a plus-14 on-ice rating. He registered six multi-point outings in nine games, including a five-point night on Feb. 15 in a 6-2 win over Merrimack at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill. The Newfoundland native recorded at least one point in all nine outings in February and ended the month riding a 10-game point streak with 10 goals and 11 assists over that span. On Saturday, he became the first Boston College rookie since Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) in 2016 to record 40 points in a single season.
He is the first player since 2016 to win both the National Player and Rookie of the Month awards.
The 2019 Colorado Avalanche first-rounder led the BCHL in scoring with 102 points and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player last season. In his two seasons in Victoria, Newhook amassed 168 points in 98 regular-season games and another 33 in 27 playoff contests.
Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week/Rookie of the Month
Keaton Mastrodonato – Freshman – Canisius College (Alberni Valley Bulldogs)
Mastrodonato tallied three points in helping Canisius sweep Mercyhurst in the final regular season series of the 2019-20 season. He scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 victory in Friday’s game. Then, he had the primary assist on the game-winning goal the following evening.
In the month of February, he was the top scoring freshman in Atlantic Hockey, leading Canisius with nine points on five goals and four assists. He closed the season on a three-game point streak, which included two multi-point games – the second and third of his freshman season.
The Powell River, B.C. native played parts of three seasons for the Bulldogs, totaling 40 goals and 54 assists for 94 points in 125 career regular-season games. His best season came last year when he finished second in team scoring with 52 points in 57 games.
WCHA Forward of the Week/Forward of the Month
Steven Jandric – Junior – University of Alaska-Fairbanks (Vernon Vipers)
Jandric led all WCHA players and tied for second nationally in scoring over the weekend, recording three goals and two assists for five points in two games. The Prince George, B.C., native posted his first career hat trick in Friday’s 5-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage before earning two assists in Saturday’s 6-1 win.
For the month, his 12 points led the WCHA and tied for seventh nationally in scoring with 12 points on five goals and seven assists in six games. Jandric also led the conference in goals-per-game (0.83), points-per-game (2.00), power-play assists (five) and power-play points (six).
The 22-year-old played two seasons for the Vipers from 2015 to 2017, leading the team his final year in both points (51) and goals (27). Jandric totaled 74 points in 121 regular-season games in his BCHL career.
ECAC Rookie of the Week
Ben Berard – Freshman – Cornell University (Powell River Kings)
Berard was the offensive leader in Cornell’s 5-1 win over Clarkson in a battle of Top-10 teams this weekend. In his only game of the weekend, the rookie recorded his first-career hat trick, which included a pair of power-play goals. His third-period tally was especially important, as it gave the Big Red some room to breathe with their first multi-goal lead in the game.
The 20-year-old played three full seasons in the BCHL from 2016 to 2019, playing all but six of his 135 career regular-season games with Powell River. His best season came in 2017-18 when he led the Kings in scoring with 67 points in 58 games. Over his career, he totaled 115 points in the regular season and another 33 in 39 playoff contests.
