UND's Johnson named NCHC Rookie of the Week

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Freshman forward Luke Johnson, who enjoyed a 4-point weekend in North Dakota’s sweep at Western Michigan, has been named the Bauer National Collegiate Hockey Conference Rookie of the Week.

Johnson scored a pair of power-play goals in Friday’s 3-2 victory, then dished out a pair of assists the following night, another 3-2 win. The Grand Forks, N.D., native helped lead North Dakota to its first series sweep of the 2013-14 campaign and led all NCHC rookies in scoring on the weekend.

With eight points (3 goals, assists) in 10 conference games, Johnson leads the NCHC rookie scoring race. He has nine points in 16 games overall, tying him for third on the team. A fifth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks last June, Johnson is UND’s second straight NCHC Rookie of the Week after defenseman Keaton Thompson won the honor last week.

Miami junior forward Austin Czarnik was named NCHC Offensive Player of the Week, St. Cloud State senior Kevin Gravel was the NCHC Defenseman of the Week, and SCSU junior Ryan Faragher was the NCHC Goaltender of the Week.

 

UND closes out the first half of the season when it hosts Northern Michigan in non-conference action Friday and Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

 

UND’s NCHC Honorees in 2013-14

Nov. 18: Dillon Simpson, Defenseman of the Week

Dec. 2:   Troy Stecher, Defenseman of the Week

              Keaton Thompson, Rookie of the Week

Dec. 9:   Luke Johnson, Rookie of the Week