The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for the games of December 27-31 and four student-athletes from three different programs have been recognized. Mitch Deelstra (Ferris State) was the Forward of the Week, while Brett Thorne (Michigan Tech) earned Defenseman of the Week honors. Christian Stoever (Bowling Green) was the conference’s Goaltender of the Week and Connor McGrath (Ferris State) picked up Rookie of the Week.
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CCHA Forward of the Week: Mitch Deelstra, Jr., Ferris State (Wallace, Ont.)
Deelstra led the Bulldogs to the Great Lakes Invitational title game last week, recording four points on two goals and two assists to earn All-Tournament Team honors. Producing the second highest plus/minus (+2) to only his teammate Connor McGrath (+3), he opened the week by recording the eventual game-winning goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory over then-No. 11 Michigan State in the GLI Semifinals. He then had a goal and an assist in a loss to then-No. 18 Western Michigan in the GLI Championship. For the week, he had eight shots on goal.
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Brett Thorne, Sr., Michigan Tech (Halifax, N.S.)
Throne led all CCHA blueliners with two points on a goal and an assist at the Great Lakes Invitational, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Both of his points came in the Huskies’ victory over then-No. 11 Michigan State in the GLI Third Place game, as his goal, which came on the power play, tied the score at 2-2 with just 1:13 left in regulation. He then assisted on the overtime-winner. For the week, he was –2 with four shots on goal and one block.
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Christian Stoever, So., Bowling Green (Northville, Mich.)
Stoever helped Bowling Green to a non-conference sweep of RPI last week, going 2-0-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage, turning away 60 of the 63 shots he faced. On Friday, he made 31 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Engineers. He then had 29 stops in a 5-2 win in which he aided the Falcons’ comeback effort after falling behind 2-0 early, earning the secondary assist on the tying goal with an outlet pass up the right-wing boards. For the weekend, he was 11-for-11 while the Falcons were shorthanded, helping the team kill off all six chances.
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Connor McGrath, Fr., Ferris State (LeRoy, Sask.)
McGrath paced all CCHA rookies with three points on one goal and two assists at the Great Lakes Invitational, helping the Bulldogs to their first ever title game appearance. He opened the week with a goal and an assist in Ferris State’s 4-2 victory over then-No. 11 Michigan State in the GLI Semifinals. He then picked up a helper against then-No. 18 Western Michigan the following day. For the week, he was a league-best +3 with one shot 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:
Jan. 3, 2023: Mitch Deelstra (FSU)
Dec. 19, 2022: Jakub Lewandowski (BSU)
Dec. 12, 2022: Kristof Papp (NMU)
Dec. 5, 2022: Taylor Schneider (BGSU)
Nov. 28, 2022: David Silye (MSU)**
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:
Jan. 3, 2023: Brett Thorne (MTU)**
Dec. 19, 2022: Brenden MacLaren (FSU)
Dec. 12, 2022: Matt Slick (FSU)
Dec. 5, 2022: Elias Rosen (BSU)**
Nov. 28, 2022: Elias Rosen (BSU)
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:
Jan. 3, 2023: Christian Stoever (BGSU)**
Dec. 19, 2022: Mattias Sholl (BSU)***
Dec. 12, 2022: Alex Tracy (MSU)
Dec. 3, 2022: Noah Giesbecht (FSU)**
Nov. 28, 2022: Aaron Trotter (UST)
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:
Jan. 3, 2023: Connor McGrath (FSU)**
Dec. 19, 2022: Jake Braccini (UST)
Dec. 12, 2022: Christian Fitzgerald (MSU)
Dec. 5, 2022: Andrew Noel (FSU)
Nov. 28, 2022: Josh Eernisse (UST)
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