Men's Ice Hockey

CCHA Players of the Month: December 2021

The CCHA is proud to recognize four student-athletes and its Players of the Month for the month of December. Bowling Green's Austen Swankler (Rookie) and Minnesota State's Nathan Smith (Forward), Jake Livingstone (Defenseman) & Dryden McKay (Goaltender) took home the honors for the third month of the 2021-22 season.
 

CCHA Forward of the Month: Nathan Smith, Jr., Minnesota State (Hudson, Fla.)

Minnesota State junior forward Nathan Smith averaged more than a point-per-game, tallying five points (2G, 3A) in four games, including a plus-3 rating and 11 shots on goal. Smith was also 33 for 65 on face-off (.508) draws. 
 

CCHA Defenseman of the Month: Jake Livingstone, So., Minnesota State (Creston, B.C.)

Minnesota State sophomore defenseman Jake Livingstone recorded three points (2G, 1A) in five games for the Mavericks in December. He recorded a plus-3 rating, seven shots on goal and two blocked shots. Livingstone also scored the game-winning goal for MInnesota State, including an assist in a 3-1 home victory over Michigan Tech on Dec. 4.
 

CCHA Goaltender of the Month: Dryden McKay, Sr., Minnesota State (Downers Grove, Ill.)

Minnesota State senior goaltender Dryden McKay led all CCHA goaltenders posting an undefeated 5-0-0 record in the month of December, including a 0.99 goals against average (GAA) and a .946 save percentage (SAV%.). McKay helped No. 1-ranked Minnesota State to victories over Michigan Tech, Bemidji State and No. 6 Minnesota Duluth.
 

CCHA Rookie of the Month: Austen Swankler, Fr., Bowling Green (North Huntingdon, Penn.)

Bowling Green freshman forward Austen Swankler scored one goal and registered six assists in December, scoring a point of five of Bowling Green's six games. He started the month with back-to-back multi-point performances against Ferris State. In the first game of the series, he assisted both of Alex Barber's power play goals. The following night, Swankler assisted on Nathan Burke's game-tying goal, then scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. Swankler recorded an assist in the first game of the Ohio State series, as well as one assist in each of the Falcons' games at the Holiday Face-Off.
 

History of CCHA Players of the Month:
 
Forward:
December, 2021: Nathan Smith (MSU)
November, 2021: Owen Sillinger (BSU)
October, 2021: Louis Boudon (LSSU)

Defenseman:
December, 2021: Jake Livingstone (MSU) **
November, 2021: Jake Livingstone (MSU)
October, 2021: Jacob Bengtsson (LSSU)

Goaltender:
December, 2021: Dryden McKay (MSU) ***
November, 2021: Dryden McKay (MSU) 
October, 2021: Dryden McKay (MSU)

Rookie:
December, 2021: Austen Swankler (BGSU) **
November, 2021: Austen Swankler (BGSU)
October, 2021: Josh Nixon (LSSU)

* = Times earned award