WCHA announces first set of ‘players of the week’ – NMU’s Tolvanen snags rookie award

By @MichaelCaples –

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced today their first set of ‘Players of the Week’ selections, with a Northern Michigan netminder claiming one of the three spots.

Atte Tolvanen, a freshman ‘tender for the Wildcats, was named the WCHA’s Rookie of the Week after making 66 saves and leading his NMU squad to a pair of ties with Wisconsin. Tolvanen, a native of Vihti, Finland, held a .930 save percentage, with those 66 saves putting him in a tie across all of college hockey on the weekend.

Full release:

WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Michael Bitzer, So., G, Bemidji State (Moorhead, Minn.)
Bitzer, the 2014-15 WCHA Rookie of the Year, opened his sophomore campaign in fine fashion by backstopping Bemidji State to a 3-2 upset win over No. 2/3 Minnesota Duluth. The Moorhead, Minn. native stopped 28-of-30 shots, while making a dozen saves during a first period in which the Beavers were outshot 12-5 and another 11 during the decisive third frame. Deadlocked at 2-2 late in the game, Bemidji State won 3-2 on Charlie O’Connor’s goal with 22 seconds remaining in regulation.

Also nominated: Jordan Klimek, So., D, Northern Michigan; Chris Nell, So., G, Bowling Green; Charles Williams, Jr., G, Ferris State

WCHA Rookie of the Week
Atte Tolvanen, Fr., G, Northern Michigan (Vihti, Finland)
Making his collegiate debut, Tolvanen logged a .930 save percentage by making 66 saves – tied for most in the nation on opening weekend – on 71 shots, helping Northern Michigan open the campaign with a pair of hard-fought ties on the road at Wisconsin. The freshman from Vihti, Finland made 41 stops Saturday night, including 19 from the start of the third period on. He also turned back 13 shots in the first period Friday, a stanza in which the Wildcats had only five shots on goal. Tolvanen made all four saves asked of him during Friday’s and Saturday’s extra sessions, as NMU left Madison with an undefeated weekend.

Also nominated: Hans Gorowsky, Fr., F, Alabama Huntsville; Ian Janco, Fr., D, Bemidji State; John Schilling, Fr., F, Bowling Green