MCHA Players of the Week
Plenty of storylines remain in place as the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association enters the final month of the regular season. In the Southern Division, Adrian College and MSOE both swept weekend series to remain deadlocked heading down the stretch. The Bulldogs (6-1 and 9-2 winners over Finlandia) and Raiders (2-0 and 4-2 over Lawrence) are now tied at 12-1-1 in MCHA play and, coincidentally, 15-3-1 overall. A head-to-head series to close out the regular season looms the final weekend.
| Races Tighten; League Heads Into Holiday |
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| Written by Chris Zills |
Monday, November 21 2011 |
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In the only other action in the MCHA, Northland College earned a weekend sweep, topping Finlandia University by scores of 5-2 and 3-2.
The Thanksgiving holiday has typically been a slow one on the schedule for the league, but not so this season as both Adrian and Marian will be hosting tournaments and overall, seven of eight league teams will be taking part in nonconference action. The Bulldogs welcome UW-Eau Claire, Buffalo State and St. Thomas, while the Sabres host Lawrence, St. Norbert and the College of St. Scholastica in the MCHA/NCHA showcase.
The MCHA welcomes a new national poll to the mix, as D3Hockey.com came out with its inaugural poll today. Adrian comes in at No. 6, MSOE at No. 10 and Marian is also receiving votes.
Players of the Week -Adrian College Bulldogs freshman forward Shelby Gray (Inermay, Sask.) is the MCHA Player of the Week for his hand in AC's sweep of Lake Forest. He started the weekend with a pair of assists in Friday's victory before adding two goals - including the game winner - and an assist Saturday for a 5-point (2G/3A) weekend. Other nominees: Colin McIntosh (Finlandia), Griffen Hodges (Finlandia)
-Northland College Lumberjacks freshman goalie Ian Perrier (Whitehorse, Yukon) is the MCHA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in sending NC to a weekend sweep of Finlandia. He earned his first two collegiate victories with 62 saves in two games, recording a save percentage of .939 and a 2.00 GAA. He also helped hold the Lions to an 0-for-7 showing on the power play. Other nominees: James Hamby (Adrian), Clancy MacNeil (Finlandia), Peter Emery (Lawrence)
-Lawrence University Vikings freshman goalie Peter Emery (Goleta, CA) is the MCHA Freshman of the Week after helping his team go unbeaten against Marian this past weekend. He made 32 saves Friday and 40 more Saturday - including several key stops in both overtimes - for a .947 save percentage on the week. The defense also held the Sabres to just one power play goal in the series. Other nominees: Alex Heinonen (Finlandia), Ian Perrier (Northland), Scott Shackell (Adrian)
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Both Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association division races remain tight after last week's games, with Adrian College sweeping past Lake Forest College (7-0 & 4-0) to improve to 5-1-0 in league play and into a tie with MSOE with an identical record and 10 points. In the other division, Marian University and Lawrence University played a home-and-home series with the top spot on the line but ended up in the same position after a pair of identical 2-2 overtime ties.
