Men's Ice Hockey

CCHA Players of the Week: November 18-19

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for the games of November 18-19 and four student-athletes from three different programs have been recognized. Nathan Burke (Bowling Green) earned Forward of the Week, while Brett Thorne (Michigan Tech) and Kyle Kukkonen (Michigan Tech) were named Defenseman and Rookie of the Week, respectively. Noah Giesbrecht (Ferris State) was the conference’s Goaltender of the Week. 
 
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Nathan Burke, Sr., Bowling Green (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 
 
Burke led the CCHA in goals (3) and points (4) last week, helping Bowling Green to a split at Ferris State. He tallied two goals and an assist, including the game-winning marker, in the Falcons’ 6-0 victory on Friday, before netting the team’s only goal on Saturday. For the week, he was a +3 with a league-high 10 shots on goal. 
 
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Brett Thorne, Jr., Michigan Tech (Halifax, N.S.) 
 
Thorne paced all CCHA skaters with five points last week, producing five assists in a road sweep of St. Thomas. On Friday, the Huskies’ captain assisted on four goals, including the game-winner in a 6-2 victory. He then recorded a helper on the opening tally in a 4-3 win on Saturday. For the week, he was a +3 with six shots on goal. 
   
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Noah Giesbrecht, So., Ferris State (White Rock, B.C.) 
 
Giesbrecht went 1-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average and a .977 save percentage in two appearances (1 start) last week. He was a perfect 10-for-10 in relief duties on Friday night, before stopping 32-of-33 shots in a 4-1 Ferris State victory on Saturday. For the week he made 42 saves in 89:40 minutes, helping the Bulldogs to a split with Bowling Green. 
   
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Kyle Kukkonen, Fr., Michigan Tech (Maple Grove, Minn.) 
 
Kukkonen helped Michigan Tech to a road sweep of St. Thomas last weekend, scoring two goals and adding an assist for three points. He netted two goals, including a power play tally and the eventual game-winning goal in Friday night’s 6-2 victory, before dishing out an assist on Saturday, as the Huskies won, 4-3. For the week, he was a +1 with seven shots on goal. 

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:
Nov. 21, 2022: Nathan Burke (BGSU)
Nov. 14, 2022: Ryan O'Hara (BGSU)
Nov. 7, 2022: David Silye (MSU)
Oct. 31, 2022: Louis Boudon (LSSU)
Oct. 24, 2022: AJ Vanderbeck (NMU)
Oct. 17, 2022: Sam Morton (MSU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Mitchell Martan (BSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Austen Swankler (BGSU)

Defenseman:
Nov. 21, 2022: Brett Thorne (MTU)
Nov. 14, 2022: Will Zmolek (BSU)
Nov. 7, 2022: Andy Carroll (MSU)
Oct. 31, 2022: Jake Livingstone (MSU)**
Oct. 24, 2022: Ethan Gauer (UST)
Oct. 17, 2022: Akito Hirose (MSU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Jake Livingstone (MSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Aiden Gallacher (NMU)

Goaltender:
Nov. 21, 2022: Noah Giesbrecht (FSU)
Nov. 14, 2022: Mattias Sholl (BSU)**
Nov. 7, 2022: Christian Stoever (BGSU)
Oct. 31, 2022: Blake Pietila (MTU)**
Oct. 24, 2022: Mattias Sholl (BSU)
Oct. 17, 2022: Blake Pietila (MTU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Zack Rose (BGSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Logan Stein (FSU)

Rookie:
Nov. 21, 2022: Kyle Kukkonen (MTU)
Nov. 14, 2022: Joey Larson (NMU)**
Nov. 7, 2022: Luc Wilson (MSU)
Oct. 31, 2022: Beni Halasz (NMU)
Oct. 24: 2022: Lleyton Roed (BSU)
Oct. 17, 2022: Alex Tracy (MSU)
Oct. 10, 2022: Connor McGrath (FSU)
Oct. 3, 2022: Joey Larson (NMU)

* = Times earned award this year