Men's Ice Hockey

CCHA Players of the Week: October 13-16

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for the games of October 13-16 and four student-athletes from two different programs have been recognized. Sam Morton (Minnesota State) was named Forward of the Week, while Akito Hirose (Minnesota State) earned Defenseman of the Week honors. Goaltender of the Week went to Blake Pietila (Michigan Tech) and Alex Tracy (Minnesota State) was tabbed the conference’s Rookie of the Week. 
 
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Sam Morton, Sr., Minnesota State (Lafayette, Colo.) 
 
Morton posted a league-best four-point weekend in helping lead fifth-ranked Minnesota State to a two-game home no-conference sweep over fourth-ranked Minnesota Duluth. On Friday, registered a goal and an assist in the Mavericks’ 6-0 win, before scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory on Saturday. For the week, he had eight shots, with two power-play tallies and one game-winner. He also blocked two shots at the defensive end and won 15 of 27 face-offs. 
   
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Akito Hirose, Jr., Minnesota State (Calgary, Alb.) 
 
Hirose led all CCHA defensemen with four points last week, assisting on four of fifth-ranked Minnesota State’s eight goals in a sweep of fourth-ranked Minnesota Duluth. He notched three helpers in a 6-0 shutout on Friday, before setting up the eventual game-winning goal on Saturday in a 2-1 win. For the week, he also compiled four shots on goal and blocked three at the defensive end, while helping anchor a defensive unit that allowed a total of 32 shots. 
   
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Blake Pietila, Sr., Michigan Tech (Howell, Mich.) 
 
Pietila backstopped Michigan Tech to a non-conference series sweep at Alaska over the weekend, going 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .966 save percentage. Making a league-high 56 saves on the weekend, he stopped all 33 shots he faced on Friday for his 11th career shutout, breaking the school record in a 2-0 victory. He then made 23 saves in a 6-2 win over the Nanooks on Saturday. 

 
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Alex Tracy, Fr., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.) 
 
Tracy stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced in helping the fifth-ranked Mavericks to a weekend sweep of fourth-ranked Minnesota Duluth. On Friday, he earned his first career win and shutout, saving 16 in a 6-0 victory over the Bulldogs. He then made 15 stops in a 2-1 triumph on Saturday night. 

For more information, contact: 
 
Perry Laskaris 
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement 
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) 
Laskaris@ccha.com 
(651) 308-1065 
 

2022-23 CCHA Weekly Awards
 
Forward:
Oc.t 17, 2022: Sam Morton (MSU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Mitchell Martan (BSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Austen Swankler (BGSU)

Defenseman:
Oct. 17, 2022: Akito Hirose (MSU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Jake Livingstone (MSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Aiden Gallacher (NMU)

Goaltender:
Oct. 17, 2022: Blake Pietila (MTU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Zack Rose (BGSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Logan Stein (FSU)

Rookie:
Oct. 17, 2022: Alex Tracy (MSU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Connor McGrath (FSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Joey Larson (NMU)

* = Times earned award this year