Spinell Nabs CCHA Defenseman of the Week Honors
12/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Dec. 12, 2011
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - For the first time in his career, junior defenseman Steven Spinell has been named CCHA Gladiator Defenseman of the Week, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced Monday. He is the second RedHawk defenseman to win the award this year, joining senior Chris Wideman, who won it Nov. 21.
Spinell (Vernon Hills, Ill.) anchored Miami's defense in a weekend split with No. 4 Ohio State. He led Miami's penalty kill as the 'Hawks went 10-of-11 on the penalty kill for the weekend, including a 5-on-3 kill on Friday while going 5-for-5 Saturday. He was also on the ice for Miami's short-handed goal on Friday at OSU. Spinell blocked five shots in the two games with three Friday and two Saturday. He was a career-best +4 in Friday's win over No. 4 OSU as he was on the ice for four of Miami's five goals while not allowing one while he was on the ice. In that game, he also assisted on Miami's game-winning goal. Spinell finished with a +3 rating on the weekend and an assist.
Spinell is one of just four RedHawks to have played in all 20 games this year. He has seven points on the season, including six assists, which ties for second among Miami defensemen in both points and assists. He has a +4 rating on the year and has totaled a team-best 29 blocked shots.
Miami players have now captured CCHA weekly awards seven times this season. In addition to Spinell and Wideman, junior forward Reilly Smith has twice earned CCHA Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 17 and Nov. 28), freshman forward Austin Czarnik has twice been named CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week (Nov. 14 and Nov. 28) and classmate Tyler Biggs has also garnered Rookie of the Week honors (Nov. 7).
The RedHawks are off for the holiday break and return to the ice Jan. 6-7 at No. 14/15 Michigan State.
--MURedHawks.com--
