College Hockey Players of the Week: Week 1

In the Week 1 edition of College Hockey Players of the Week for both men’s and women’s, I will be highlighting two men’s and women’s players from the weekend set of games to start the new year.

Men's

Bennett Schimek, Arizona State, Forward

Schimek had a big-time weekend for the Sun Devils in the first two games.

In the weekend series on the road at the Air Force Academy, nine goals were scored by Arizona State. However, they left their trip to Colorado with a 3-4 OT loss in the second of two games.

It was in Game 1 however, where Schimek turned it up a notch.

An eight-one victory was highlighted by a hat trick from the Providence transfer. Schimek also added an assist to go along with the three goals.

In 34 games last season, he scored eight total goals. Now through two games in his new jersey, he already has half of those goals.

Trey Augustine, Michigan State, Goaltender

Arseni Sergeev is the hot new name on the block, and as a Penn State hockey insider, I wanted to highlight him after his amazing week.

But, Trey Augustine was magnificent this past weekend, stopping 50 of the 52 shots he faced this weekend at Lake Superior State.

Now Augustine and the Spartans face one of their toughest tests of the season, as they host the No. 2 ranked Boston College Eagles this upcoming weekend.

Women's

Casey O’Brien, Wisconsin, Forward

The fifth-year senior has been off to a red-hot start for the Badgers.

Through the first four games of the new campaign, O’Brien has five goals and 10 assists already.

I wish I could put the entire Wisconsin hockey team on this list, considering the fact that including O’Brien, eight players are having better than a point-per-game average on the new season.

It’s no surprise that Wisconsin received 19 of the 20 first-place votes as a team this past week.

O’Brien’s name will definitely be brought up again as a player of the year candidate in the season.

Kaley Doyle, Quinnipiac, Goalie

Doyle has allowed three goals this season, and Quinnipiac has already played its fourth game.

The transfer from Brown University has stopped 92 of the 95 shots that have come her way.

It’s hard to tell how much Doyle will be able to keep up, but after seeing her stats from last season (2.25 GAA), it seems more likely than unlikely.

When a goaltender can have a GAA of less than one (0.76) through any stretch of games, winning hockey games should be easier.

Giustino Racchini is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at gar5448@psu.edu.