UND nabs three NCHC weekly honors

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- On the heels of a second straight series sweep and five consecutive victories, three North Dakota sophomores claimed Bauer NCHC Player of the Week Awards on Monday.

Forward Rocco Grimaldi was named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week, Jordan Schmaltz was named Defeneman of the Week, and Zane Gothberg was named co-Goaltender of the Week.

Grimaldi collected three assists and set up both game-winning goals in UND's non-conference sweep of Northern Michigan. In Friday's 4-1 win, Grimaldi assisted on a pair of power-play goals, including Luke Johnson' game-winner, then set up Drake Caggiula's winner the following night in a 3-1 win. The Rossmoor, Calif., native also won an NCHC-leading 27 faceoffs on the weekend, going 58.7 percent in the circle, and extended his point streak to five games.

Like Grimaldi, Schmaltz also dished out three assists in the series while anchoring a defensive effort that limited NMU to 39 total shots on the weekend. The Verona, Wis., native had a pair of power-play assists Friday and set up Derek Rodwell's empty netter on Saturday.

Gothberg, who extended his personal winning streak to a career-long five games, stopped 37 of 39 shots in the series against the Wildcats for a save percentage of .949. A native of Thief River Falls, Minn., Gothberg shared the award with Denver senior Sam Brittain.

Minnesota Duluth freshman forward Shane Osterberg was named NCHC Rookie of the Week.

UND is now off until after Christmas and will return to action Jan. 3-4 at the Great Northwest Showcase tournament in Burnaby, British Columbia.