Photo Credit: Sasha Kandrach
Danton Heinen and Dylan Gambrell were named NCHC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively after leading the University of Denver Pioneers to a weekend sweep of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Heinen paced DU with 7 points (2G, 5A) throughout the weekend. In Friday’s game, Heinen was named the first star of the game with 2 goals and 3 assists for a career high 5 points. On Saturday he tallied two assists, including the only assist on Gambrell’s empty-net goal to seal the sweep.
Gambrell centered the potent top line with Heinen and tallied four points (2G, 2A) while posting a plus-4 rating for the series. Gambrell has been outperforming expectations this year and has garnered a lot of interest from a number NHL franchises ahead of the 2016 draft this summer.
During Friday’s high scoring, 6-4 affair, Heinen and Gambrell combined to contribute 7 of the 17 total points earned by both teams’ top lines. This is the second time this season that Heinen has been named Offensive Player of the Week while it is Gambrell’s 3rd time earning Rookie of the Week honors.
Trevor Moore was also a nominee for Offensive Player of the Week after also tallying 7 points and a plus-4 rating against North Dakota. Tanner Jaillet was nominated for Goalie of the Week after earning the victories in both games against the Fighting Hawks. He posted a 2.50 GAA and .938 SV% while stopping 75 of 80 shots on the weekend.
Denver plays in-state rival Colorado College on Thursday and Saturday this week. Thursday’s affair is at the World Arena in Colorado Springs while the Battle on Blake is on Saturday at Coors Field.