Photo credits: BSU Photo Services (Sillinger), Fighting Irish Media (Galajda)
Last week in the NCAA, there were three former BCHL players who took home weekly honours in their respective conference.
Hockey East Player of the Week
Nick Poisson – Sophomore – Providence College (Prince George Spruce Kings)
Poisson amassed five assists over two games last weekend, including the assist on the game-winning overtime goal on Friday vs. American International College. All five of Poisson’s helpers were primary assists. The sophomore ranks second in Hockey East in scoring with 15 points and first with 12 assists.
Poisson played two seasons with the Prince George Spruce Kings from 2018 to 2020. He racked up 77 points in 107 regular-season games over his career, as well as another 10 in 21 postseason games. He was a key part of their 2019 Fred Page Cup championship team that went all the way to the finals of the National Championship tournament.
CCHA Forward of the Week
Owen Sillinger – Senior – Bemidji State University (Penticton Vees)
Sillinger had a hand in five of the Beavers’ nine goals in a two-game road series sweep over Lake Superior State University. The Regina, Sask. native had a game-best two goals and two assists in a 5-4 victory Friday. The four-point night came just one short of his career best. His game-winning goal Friday was his first of the season. His five-point weekend vaulted him into BSU’s scoring lead with 12 points to sit 13th in the league, while his eight helpers lead the Beavers and tie him for eighth in the CCHA.
Sillinger, the son of former NHLer Mike Sillinger, played three years with the Vees from 2015 to 2018, putting up 153 points in 171 regular-season games. He was named captain in his final BCHL season and led the team in scoring with 67 points, good enough to tie him for sixth overall in the league.
Big Ten 3rd Star of the Week
Matthew Galajda – Graduate – University of Notre Dame (Victoria Grizzlies)
Galajda backstopped the Irish to a weekend sweep of Wisconsin, finishing with a 0.50 goals-against average and a .979 save percentage. He stopped 46 of the 47 shots he faced on the weekend, with the Badgers’ lone goal coming on their first shot of the series while playing with the man advantage. His shutout on Saturday was his second of the season and the 21st of his career, moving him into a tie for third all-time in career shutouts.
Galajda played for the Victoria Grizzlies for two seasons from 2015 to 2017, finishing his BCHL career with a .918 save percentage, a 2.52 goals-against average and seven shutouts in 83 appearances.
