Edwardson And Christie Earn CCHA Weekly Accolades After UAF Sweep
11/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Nov. 24, 2003
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami (8-6-2, 6-3-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) hockey team was one award short of clean sweep today as senior forward Derek Edwardson (Morton Grove, Ill.) was named the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors were bestowed upon freshman Matt Christie (Ajax, Ontario). The awards are the second and third of the season for the RedHawks and come after a home ice sweep this past weekend against Alaska Fairbanks.
Edwardson has been one of Miami's steadiest players all season, and now, after scoring seven points in a weekend sweep at home against Alaska Fairbanks, gets his second player of the week award. He scored one goal and two assists in Friday night's 7-1 thumping of the Nanooks, and followed this up with his second four-point game of the season on Saturday night. In addition to tallying the Red and White's first three-assist game, Edwardson assisted on Christie's overtime game-winner.
With seven points on the weekend, Edwardson took over the nation's lead for overall points with 23 (9-14-23). His 14 assists are second in the nation only to a 15-spot being posted by his classmate, senior Mike Kompon (Thunder Bay, Ontario). Edwardson also paces the CCHA in league-games only in points (9-9-18), goals (9), assists (9) and shorthanded goals (2).
Also taking home a weekly honor this week is Saturday night's hero, Christie, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime against UAF. Christie scored a goal and two assists in Miami's 7-1 win over UAF, which included his team-leading fifth power-play goal of the season. He ended the weekend in style for the RedHawks by scoring his 11th goal at 2:58 in the extra frame against the Nanooks, giving Miami its second CCHA sweep of the season.
Christie has been the RedHawks go-to goal scorer this season, leading the team with 11 markers and five power-play goals. His 11 goals are better than any other rookie in Division I hockey, and are tied for second overall in the nation. He has scored at least one point in his last 10-of-12 games, and has registered a point in 11-of-16 games this season.
"Derek has been our leader all season and this weekend shows how he continues to do it overall," head coach Enrico Blasi says. "Matt has been contributing all year, working hard and right now he is really getting some bounces to go in his favor. (Matt) is really benefitting from playing on the same line as (Edwardson)."
The RedHawks sit in second place in the CCHA entering their bye weekend with a 6-3-1 league mark. Miami returns to action when it plays its first home-and-home series against intrastate rival Ohio State on Dec. 5-6. The Friday night game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at OSU's Value City Arena, and the Saturday night contest is at 7:35 p.m. in Goggin Ice Arena.
