The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) has announced its Players of the Month for January and four student-athletes from two different programs have been recognized. Sam Morton (Minnesota State) and Evan Murr (Minnesota State) were named the Forward and Defenseman of the Month, respectively, while Alex Tracy (Minnesota State) was selected as the Goaltender of the Month. Luigi Benincasa (Ferris State) earned Rookie of the Month honors. 

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CCHA Forward of the Month: Sam Morton, Gr., Minnesota State (Lafayette, Colo.) 
 
Morton paced all conference skaters in goals (6), goals per game (0.75), shots (38), shots per game (4.75), power-play goals (2) and plus-minus (+6) in January, while ranking second in points (9) and face-off wins (82). Leading the Mavericks to a 5-1-2 record in the month, he registered at least one point in 5-of-6 contests, including two multi-point outings. Closing out the month on a five-game point streak, he also recorded three blocked shots at the defensive end of the ice.

CCHA Defenseman of the Month: Evan Murr, Fr., Minnesota State (Stillwater, Minn.)

Murr led all CCHA blueliners with six points in January, scoring a goal and recording five assists. He also posted defenseman bests in plus-minus (+5) and multi-point games (2), while notching 11 shots on goal and four blocks in the Mavericks’ end. He helped set up both goals in a 2-1 win at Augustana on January 6, before dishing out two more helpers in a 4-1 victory at Bowling Green on January 20.

CCHA Goaltender of the Month: Alex Tracy, So., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.) 

Tracy went 3-0-2 with a 1.16 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage in five January starts. He totaled 107 saves in 309:03 minutes of action, registering two shutouts. After allowing three goals at Augustana in a 3-3 tie on January 5, he surrendered just three over his last four starts, including shutouts against Ferris State (4-0 on Jan. 13) and Northern Michigan (4-0 on Jan. 27). He aided a Minnesota State penalty kill that posted an 85.2% rate in the month.

CCHA Rookie of the Week: Luigi Benincasa, Fr., Ferris State (Edmonton, Alb.)

Benincasa led all CCHA first-year players with six points in January, scoring two goals and dishing out four assists in six games. Second among all league skaters in plus-minus (+5), he recorded 15 shots on goal. His month was highlighted by a pair of multi-point outings, including scoring a goal with two assists in a 5-3 victory over Bemidji State on January 6. He then notched a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win over Lake Superior State on January 19.


For more information, contact: 

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

2023-24 CCHA Monthly Awards
 
Forward:
January, 2024: Sam Morton (MSU)
December, 2023: Adam Eisele (MSU)
November, 2023: Jared Westcott (LSSU)**
October, 2023: Jared Westcott (LSSU)

Defenseman:
January, 2024: Evan Murr (MSU)
December, 2023: Travis Shoudy (FSU)
November, 2023: Kyle Looft (BSU)**
October, 2023: Kyle Looft (BSU)

Goaltender:
January, 2024: Alex Tracy (MSU)
December, 2023: Blake Pietila (MTU)
November, 2023: Aaron Trotter (UST)
October, 2023: Jake Sibell (UST)

Rookie:
January, 2024: Luigi Benincasa (FSU)
December, 2023: Cole Moore (BGSU)
November, 2023: Isaac Gordon (MTU)
October, 2023: Tanner Latsch (NMU)