COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UND Athletics)– For the third straight week, North Dakota headlines the weekly awards from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Junior defenseman Ethan Frisch and senior goaltender Zach Driscoll each took home an honor, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon following a sweep over Colorado College.
Frisch nabbed the NCHC Defenseman of the Week selection after anchoring a group that played only five-deep for 112 minutes of the 120-minute series against the Tigers. In those two games, the junior played over 58 minutes of ice time to lead all players and finished the weekend with three points. Frisch scored goals in back-to-back games for the second time this season and added an assist in Friday’s win for his first multi-point outing since Oct. 30 vs. Penn State.
The Moorhead, Minn., native was everywhere in the series finale, opening the scoring with his fifth power play goal of the season before blocking a career-high six shots to help preserve the shutout. As a team, UND blocked a total of 20 shots on Saturday and finished a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
On the season, Frisch has a career-high eight goals, including five on the man advantage, and six assists.
Driscoll once again backstopped the Fighting Hawks to its first sweep since December with a pair of sparkling performances in net to earn NCHC Goaltender of the Week for the second straight week. The senior stopped 24 of the 26 shots he saw on Friday night, allowing just two power play tallies in the second period, before closing the door to claim the weekend opener. He nearly made highlight tapes around the county, firing a shot attempt just wide of the empty net in pursuit of his first-collegiate goal.
Saturday night, the Apple Valley, Minn., native was unbeatable with 23 saves to notch his second shutout of the season and 12th of his career. Driscoll made his best save of the weekend early in the first period, going full extension with his glove to make the stop in a scoreless game.
On the weekend, Driscoll finished with a .959 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average. He currently is 3-1-0 with a .962 save percentage and 0.99 GAA during the month of February and has allowed just three goals at 5-on-5 over his last seven appearances.
No. 10 North Dakota hits the road following a 4-1-1 homestand to battle No. 7 Minnesota Duluth from AMSOIL Arena. Friday’s game is at a special 8 p.m. (CT) puck drop
