BU’s Farrance, Badgers’ Watts Top January Honorees

Spectacular performances came from both ends of the ice in January. Here are the monthly honors for men’s and women’s NCAA Division I hockey.


playerMen’s Player of the Month: David Farrance, SR Defenseman, Boston University (Victor, NY)

If anyone did it well in both ends of the ice in January, it was BU defenseman David Farrance. His 14 points in just six games led the NCAA in points per game (2.3) and he was a +4 as a defender. Among his line of 4-10-14: both GWGs in a mid-month sweep of then #6 Massachusetts.

Runners-Up:
Cole Caufield, SO F, Wisconsin (Stevens Point, WI)
(8 GP, 8-8-16, 2.0 PPG)
Brandon Kruse, SR F, Bowling Green (Saline, MI)
(10 GP, 6-8-14, 1.4 PPG)
Colin Bilek, JR F, Army West Point (Brighton, MI)
(9 GP, 10-3-13, 1.4 PPG)


playerWomen’s Player of the Month: Daryl Watts, SR Forward, Wisconsin (Toronto, ONT)

Recording 18 points is a good season for some players. But Daryl Watts did that in January alone. Watts led the NCAA with 10 goals and 18 points in her 10-8-18 month, compiling these numbers in just eight games, good for 2.25 points per game. She had at least one point in each game and half of the games were against highly ranked Minnesota and Ohio State.

Runner-Up:
Aerin Frankel, SR G, Northeastern
(Briarcliff Manor, NY) (9 GP, 0.48 GAA, .980 Save %)


playerMen’s Rookie of the Month: Veeti Miettinen, FR Forward,St. Cloud State (Espoo, Finland)

Miettinen was twice Rookie of the Week for the NCHC in January, compiling 5-5-10 in eight games. His best weekend came against highly ranked Minnesota Duluth when he enjoyed a 5-point weekend in a spli for the Huskies.

Runners-Up:
Owen Power, FR F, Michigan (Mississauga, ONT)
(6 GP, 1-7-8, 1.33 PPG)
Randy Hernandez, FR F, Robert Morris (Miami, FL)
(8 GP, 4-6-10, 1.25 PPG)


playerWomen’s Rookie of the Month: Michelle Pasiechnyk, FR Goalie, Clarkson (Ottawa, ONT)

Paciechnyk started six of Clarkson’s eight games, allowing just six goals and stopping 171 of 177 shots, good for a save perentage of .966. In a showdown with #5 Colgate, she was at her stingy best as Clarkson swept on the road by virtue of 2-0 and 2-1 wins. Her 42 aves in a 3-1 win at Quinnipiac was a season best.

Runners-Up:
Jenna Buglioni, FR F, Ohio State
(Port Moody, BC) (10 GP, 6-4-10, 1.0 PPG)
Kiara Zanon, FR F, Penn State (Fairpoint, NY)
(6 GP, 3-4-7, 1.2 PPG)


playerCo-Men’s Goaltender of the Month: Strauss Mann, JR Goalie, Michigan (Greenwich, CT)

Mann had a solid month against highly regarded opponents in Big Ten action, stopping 110 of 114 shots (.965) and going 3-1 with a 1.00 GAA. His best efforts: a 30-save shutout against Ohio State (5-0) and a 35-save effort in a road win at Notre Dame (3-1.) He also shutout Michigan State (9-0) early in the month.


playerCo-Men’s Goaltender of the Month: Dryden McKay, JR Goalie, Minn. State (Downers Grove, IL)

McKay started the month on fire, recording four shutouts in his first five starts. His final numbers : 6 GP, 0.50, 6-0-0, .971. Credit is shared with his “D” as MNSU gave up an average of just over 17 shots a game.

Runner-Up:
Filip Lindberg, JR G, UMass (Espoo, Finland)
(4 GP, 0.96, 2-0-2, .980)


playerWomen’s Goaltender of the Month: Aerin Frankel SR Goalie, Northeastern (Briarcliff Manor, NY)

Frankel was nearly perfect in January, recording six shutouts in her nine starts, and stopping 193 of 197 shots (.980). She went 8-0-1 with a 0.48 GAA, establishing school records for career wins and shutouts along the way. She is two shutouts shy of the Hockey East career mark.

Runner-Up:
Emma Soderberg, JR G, Minnesota Duluth
(Jarved, Sweden) (6 GP, 0.50 GAA, 4-2-0, .981)