The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Week for the games on December 7-8 and four student-athletes from four different programs have been recognized. Ryan O’Neill (St. Thomas) was tabbed the Forward of the Week, while Mason Wheeler (Minnesota State) collected Defenseman of the Week honors. Blake Pietila (Michigan Tech) earned Goaltender of the Week honors and Luigi Benincasa was the Rookie of the Week for the second time.
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CCHA Forward: Ryan O’Neill, So., St. Thomas (Roseville, Minn.)
O’Neill paced all league skaters with six points last week, recording a goal and five assists in a road split against Ferris State. Producing a +3 rating for the weekend, he dished out one assist in a 5-2 loss on Friday, before collecting a goal and four helpers for a career-high five points – the most by a CCHA player this season – on Saturday night, helping the Tommies to a 7-2 victory.
CCHA Defenseman of the Week: Mason Wheeler, So., Minnesota State (Rosemount, Minn.)
Wheeler helped the Mavericks to a five-point road weekend, scoring his first collegiate goal and blocking four shots at the defensive end of the ice. He recorded three blocks in a 2-2 tie on Friday night at Lake Superior State, in which Minnesota State collected two points by winning the shootout. He then tallied in a 4-3 victory over the Lakers on Saturday night. For the weekend, he was +1 with one shot on goal and one minor penalty.
CCHA Goaltender of the Week: Blake Pietila, Sr., Michigan Tech (Howell, Mich.)
Pietila went 1-1-0 last week, posting league-bests in goals-against average (1.98), save percentage (.937) and total saves (59) among two-start netminders. On Friday, he made 28 stops in a 2-1 loss to Bowling Green, before turning away 31-of-33 shots in a 3-2 victory over the Falcons Saturday night. He was a perfect 8-for-8 on shots while the Huskies were shorthanded, helping the penalty kill go 5-for-5 on the weekend.
CCHA Rookie of the Week: Luigi Benincasa, Fr., Ferris State (Edmonton, Alb.)
Waters paced all league rookies with three points last week, registering three assists in a home split with first-place St. Thomas. Posting a +2 rating for the weekend, he handed out a pair of helpers in a 5-2 victory on Friday night, before assisting on the lone Bulldogs tally in a 7-1 loss on Saturday. He totaled three shots on goal and won 18-of-33 (54.5%) face-offs.
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065
2023-24 CCHA Weekly Awards
Forward:
Dec. 4, 2023: Ryan O'Neill (UST)
Nov. 27, 2023: Ryland Mosley (MTU)
Nov. 20, 2023: Jared Westcott (LSSU)**
Nov. 13, 2023: Artem Shlaine (NMU)
Nov. 6, 2023: Lucas Wahlin (UST)
Oct. 30, 2023: Jared Westcott (LSSU)
Oct. 23, 2023: Liam Malmquist (UST)
Oct. 16, 2023: Tanner Latsch (NMU)
Oct. 9, 2023: Luke Manning (UST)
Defenseman:
Dec. 4, 2023: Mason Wheeler (MSU)
Nov. 27, 2023: Matthew Campbell (MTU)
Nov. 20, 2023: Kyle Looft (BSU)***
Nov. 13, 2023: Kyle Looft (BSU)**
Nov. 6, 2023: Chase Pietila (MTU)
Oct. 30, 2023: Josh Zinger (NMU)**
Oct. 23, 2023: Kyle Looft (BSU)
Oct. 16, 2023: Josh Zinger (NMU)
Oct. 9, 2023: Travis Shoudy (FSU)
Goaltender:
Dec. 4, 2023: Blake Pietila (MTU)
Nov. 27: 2023: Beni Halasz (NMU)**
Nov. 20, 2023: Charlie Glockner (NMU)
Nov. 13, 2023: Aaron Trotter (UST)
Nov. 6, 2023: Ethan Langenegger (LSSU)
Oct. 30, 2023: Beni Halasz (NMU)
Oct. 23, 2023: Jake Sibell (UST)
Oct. 16, 2023: Alex Tracy (MSU)
Oct. 9, 2023: Christian Stoever (BGSU)
Rookie:
Dec. 4, 2023: Luigi Benincasa (FSU)**
Nov. 27: 2023: Brody Waters (BGSU)
Nov. 20, 2023: Luigi Benincasa (FSU)
Nov. 13, 2023: Evan Murr (MSU)
Nov. 6, 2023: Isaac Gordon (MTU)
Oct. 30, 2023: Eric Pohlkamp (BSU)
Oct. 23, 2023: Tanner Latsch (NMU)**
Oct. 16, 2023: Tanner Latsch (NMU)
Oct. 9, 2023: John Herrington (LSSU)
* = Times earned award this year