Men's Ice Hockey

CCHA Players of the Month: March/April 2022

The CCHA is proud to recognize four student-athletes and its Players of the Month for the months of March and April. Bemidji State's goaltender Mattias Sholl (Rookie) and Minnesota State's Brendan Furry (Forward), Akito Hirose (Defenseman) and Dryden McKay (Goaltender) took home the honors for March and April.
 

CCHA Forward of the Month: Brendan Furry, Jr., Minnesota State (Toledo, OH)

Minnesota State junior forward Brendan Furry recorded three goals and added five assists to total eight points in eight games throughout March and April. Had tallied at least one point in all six games in the month of March and assisted on Nathan Smith's game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Notre Dame in regional championship game to help lead the Mavericks to the Frozen Four. Furry was named to the NCAA Tournament Regional All-Tournament Team and played a key role in helping lead the Mavericks to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey National Championship Game this past Saturday.
 

CCHA Defenseman of the Month: Akito Hirose, So., Minnesota State (Calgary, Alta.)

Minnesota State sophomore Akito Hirose recorded five points in eight games played throughout the months of March and April to average .625 points per game as a defenseman for the Mavericks.  Hirose helped his team earn the CCHA Mason Cup Playoff Championship en-route to advancing to the NCAA Tournament where he was named to the Regional All-Tournament Team. Hirose played a key role in helping lead the Mavericks to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey National Championship Game this past Saturday.
 

CCHA Goaltender of the Month: Dryden McKay, Sr., Minnesota State (Downers Grove, Ill.)

Along with winning the prestigious 2022 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player this past Friday, Minnesota State senior goaltender Dryden McKay recorded a 7-1-0 record in the months of March and April to help lead his team as the CCHA Mason Cup Playoff Champions and all the way to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey National Championship Game Saturday. McKay recorded a 1.28 goals against average (GAA) and a .933 save percentage, including one shutout during Minnesota State's run to the final possible game of the season. He was also named to Regional All-Tournament Team and Regional Tournament MVP in the NCAA Tournament.

 

CCHA Rookie of the Month: Mattias Sholl, Fr., Bemidji State (Hermosa Beach, Calif.)

Bemidji State University freshman goaltender Mattias Sholl helped lead his team to three consecutive victories in the postseason, including a first-round CCHA playoff series triumph over Bowling Green and a semifinal round road upset at Michigan Tech to advance to the CCHA Mason Cup Championship game. Sholl earned a 1.79 goals against average (GAA) and .935 save percentage (SAV%), including 129 saves on 138 shots throughout five games in the month of March. 
 

History of CCHA Players of the Month:
 
Forward:
March/April, 2022: Brendan Furry (MSU)
February, 2022: Brian Halonen (MTU)
January, 2022: Julian Napravnik (MSU)
December, 2021: Nathan Smith (MSU)
November, 2021: Owen Sillinger (BSU)
October, 2021: Louis Boudon (LSSU)

Defenseman:
March/April, 2022: Akito Hirose (MSU)
February, 2022: Elias Rosen (BSU) **
January, 2022: Elias Rosen (BSU)
December, 2021: Jake Livingstone (MSU) **
November, 2021: Jake Livingstone (MSU)
October, 2021: Jacob Bengtsson (LSSU)

Goaltender:
March/April, 2022: Dryden McKay *****
February, 2022: Ethan Langenegger (LSSU) & Dryden McKay (MSU) 
January, 2022: Blake Pietila (MTU)
December, 2021: Dryden McKay (MSU)
November, 2021: Dryden McKay (MSU) 
October, 2021: Dryden McKay (MSU)

Rookie:
March/April, 2022: Mattias Sholl (BSU) **
February, 2022: Charlie Glockner (NMU)
January, 2022: Mattias Sholl (BSU)
December, 2021: Austen Swankler (BGSU) **
November, 2021: Austen Swankler (BGSU)
October, 2021: Josh Nixon (LSSU)

* = Times earned award