COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UND Athletics)– Freshman defenseman Jake Livanavage has been named NCHC Defenseman of the Week as announced by league officials on Monday. It marks the second weekly honor of the season for Livanavage, garnering the league’s top rookie weekly award in November.
Livanavage was a key contributor at both ends of the ice in North Dakota’s sweep of then-No. 4 Denver. Along with handing out three assists in the two wins, including on both game-winning goals, he was an integral part of North Dakota’s blue line, which limited the Pioneers to four goals all weekend after DU entered the series first in the country averaging 5.25 goals per game. Offensively, Livanavage doled out the primary helper on the game-winning goal Friday, which put UND up, 3-1, in an eventual 5-2 victory. The next night, he handed out two more assists on the power play, setting up the Fighting Hawks’ first and third goals in a 4-2 win to earn the game’s third star.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native finished the weekend with three assists, all coming on the man advantage, including two primary helpers. He also blocked four shots in the sweep, including three on Saturday. The rookie was excellent on both special teams units, as UND went 4-for-6 on the power play in the series and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. Livanavage had a hand in three of the four power play goals, including a big play to keep the puck in the zone on Saturday, which led to the game-winning goal and put North Dakota up for good, 3-2. Livanavage now has points in 11 of his last 14 games and has 17 points (2-15-17) in 26 games this season.
North Dakota, who leaped to No. 2 in both weekly polls on Monday, heads to Oxford, Ohio for a weekend series with Miami beginning on Friday night at 6:05 p.m. (CT).
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