College Hockey Players of the Week: Week 3

After the third week of college hockey, plenty of players on the men’s and women’s sides have stood out in the new campaign.

I will be highlighting two men's and women’s ice hockey players who have performed exceptionally well so far.

Here is my list starting with the men.

Cole O’Hara, UMass, Forward

In 37 games played last season, O’Hara had 18 points off of seven total goals in the season.

So far this season he already has half of his 2023-24 point total and three goals as well.

The minutemen have not played fantastic opponents, only playing one ranked squad in Omaha to start the year. However, when you have nine points through your team's first six games, you deserve a feature in my article.

It’s early to tell who is going to emerge as a superstar goal scorer, but I’d say O’Hara is off to an above-average start.

Isak Posch, St. Cloud State, Goaltender

For a majority of the top statistical goalies, they’ve only played one or two games so far this season. First-year starter Isak Posch on the other hand, already has five games under his belt.

The team is 4-1 in the games he’s played in this season and he has only allowed seven total goals in those five games. That is good for a 1.41 GAA on the season.

One game after getting shut out on the road at Michigan, St Cloud and Posch responded in shutout fashion of their own in Game 2.

Last weekend’s affairs were the best of the year for the young netminder, and the ceiling only gets higher from here.

Casey O’Brien, Wisconsin, Forward

This is not the first time you have seen her on this list, and it most certainly will not be the last.

Through only eight games this season, O’Brien has recorded at least a goal or an assist in every single contest, which has led her to have 21 points so far on the season.

Wisconsin has been a wagon to start the season with players who don’t seem to be slowing down at all any time soon. Time will tell though if it’s just a fast start, or if the Badgers are the premier team in women’s college hockey.

Carly Greene, Sacred Heart, Goaltender

Greene has had one of the best starts to the season in college hockey, and the main reason is because of all the shots she has faced.

116 saves off of 119 shots to start a year, though only three total games played is absurd. That equates to a 0.95 GAA as well as a .975 save percentage already to start the year.

It is really tough to fully know whether or not goaltenders can keep up stats like these, especially in such a new start to the season.

But with the amount of volume she has already faced in terms of the shots department, continued success should not be undoubted.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Greene is back on the list in the future.

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