NCHC January Player of the Month

Jonny Brodzinski

St. Cloud State

Sophomore Forward

Blaine, Minn.

Brodzinski tied for the NCHC lead in January with 10 points, notching six goals and four assists in seven games played. The Los Angeles Kings prospect recorded at least one point in each game during the month, including two multi-point and multi-goal games. His six goals, two of which came on the power play, were second in the conference during January while he put 35 shots on goal in the month, which was tops in the NCHC. Brodzinski finished the month with a +1 rating and blocked two shots, as well.

Brodzinski started January strong with a three-goal weekend in a split at Denver Jan. 10-11, including two goals in a 6-3 win in the series opener, one of which came on the man advantage. He then fired a season-high 10 shots on goal in the series finale, scoring once. The next weekend the six-foot-one forward handed out an assist in both games against Western Michigan Jan. 17-18. At the North Star College Cup, Brodzinski tallied SCSU’s lone goal in a loss to Minnesota Jan. 24, but sparked the Huskies the following night with his second three-point game of the season, scoring two goals (one on the power play) and adding an assist in a win over Minnesota State. He then capped January with an assist in a win over Nebraska Omaha to extend his point streak to eight games while helping SCSU finish with a 3-3-1 record in the month.

Brodzinski earned recognition throughout January as well, earning NCHC Offensive Player of the Week following his four-point outing at the North Star College Cup. He was also named the first star of the game in the Huskies’ win over Minnesota State at the tournament. On the season, he leads SCSU with 26 points and 14 goals and boasts a +12 rating while helping the Huskies move into first place in the NCHC standings.

DEFENSEMAN OF THE WEEK

Willie Corrin, Minnesota Duluth

Sophomore Defenseman

International Falls, Minn.

Corrin had arguably the best weekend of his career, helping the Bulldogs to a sweep at No. 20 Western Michigan. The sophomore dished out three assists in the series while posting a +3 rating and blocking two shots. In Friday’s 5-2 victory, he handed out a pair of helpers for his first career multi-point game with both coming in the third period, the first of which set up the game-winning goal. The next night, he had an assist on UMD’s final goal to help seal the 3-1 win, while logging a +2 rating. Corrin helped limit the Broncos to three goals all weekend while playing on a penalty kill that was 12-for-13 in the series, including 6-for-6 on Saturday. He blocked a shot in each game as well.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Kyle Osterberg, Minnesota Duluth

Freshman Forward

Lakeville, Minn.

Osterberg led UMD to a sweep at No. 20 Western Michigan behind a four-point weekend. All four of his points came in a 5-2 win Friday, marking a career high for points, as he had a hand in four of the Bulldogs’ five goals. Osterberg scored two goals for his first career multi-goal game, while adding a pair of assists. He scored his first goal on the power play to open the scoring and added his second in the third period to add to UMD’s lead. Both of his assists were primary helpers in the second and third periods, while he posted a +3 rating for the contest and was named the first star of the game. Saturday, he put two shots on goal in a 3-1 victory to complete the sweep. Osterberg totaled seven shots on goal and finished with a +3 rating in the series. He has now earned NCHC Rookie of the Week twice this season.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Aaron Crandall, Minnesota Duluth

Senior Goaltender

Lakeville, Minn.

Crandall continued his strong play of late, backstopping the Bulldogs to a sweep at No. 20 Western Michigan. In the series he recorded a 1.50 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, allowing just three goals all weekend while totaling 49 saves to pick up both wins in net. In the series opener, Crandall made 17 saves while giving up two goals (only one even strength) in a 5-2 victory that snapped WMU’s six-game unbeaten streak. On Saturday, the senior collected his 10th win of the year by allowing just one goal while making 32 saves to earn first star of the game honors. In that contest, he stopped 13 shots in each of the first two periods and helped kill all six WMU power plays. Crandall anchored a UMD penalty kill that finished 12-for-13 on the weekend as he has now started a career-best nine straight games in goal. He has now earned NCHC Goaltender of the Week twice this year.