Knapp Named CCHA Goaltender of the Month
3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
March 1, 2012
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - After being named CCHA Goaltender of the Week on Tuesday, Miami University senior goalie Connor Knapp earned a more accomplished award Thursday as he was tabbed CCHA Gongshow Goaltender of the Month for February, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced. The honor is Knapp's first career CCHA monthly honor while he is the second RedHawk netminder to win the award this season, joining classmate Cody Reichard, who won it for the month of November.
Knapp continued his strong 2012 by posting a 1.05 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage in seven games (six starts) in February while going 5-1-0. He made 161 saves on 168 shots, allowing just seven goals, but four of them came on the power play (two came 5-on-3). He pitched two shutouts during the month (both in his last four games) and has given up just three goals in his last five starts, two on a 5-on-3 power play and one on a 5-on-4 power play as he didn't give up an even strength goal after Feb. 4. He is also on a five-game winning streak.
Knapp played 40 minutes of relief Feb. 3 at Michigan allowing just one goal. The next night he gave up three goals in his only loss of the month but still stopped 29 shots. Feb. 10 against Alabama-Huntsville, he made 11 saves while allowing only a power play goal in a 3-1 win.
Feb. 17 vs. Notre Dame he pitched his first shutout of the month and third of the season, making 31 saves. The next night, he allowed just a 5-on-3 power play goal while stopping 28 shots, including 17 on Irish power plays, to earn his third win of the month. He was named CCHA Goalie of the Week and INCH National Player of the Week (for the second time this year) for his efforts.
Knapp was stellar again Feb. 24-25 in a sweep of Ohio State. He saved all 28 shots Feb. 24 for his second shutout of the month and fourth of the year, which ties a career high. He also tied Miami's career shutouts record as it was the 12th of his career, matching Reichard and David Burleigh ('03). Feb. 25, he was victorious again, making 22 saves while allowing only a 5-on-3 power play goal. He then earned CCHA Goaltender of the Week for the second straight week and fourth time this year, more than any other teams' goalies combined, for his performance against the Buckeyes.
Knapp finished the regular season with a 1.53 GAA, which is first in the country while his .939 save percentage is second and both lead the CCHA. In league play only, he finished first with both a 1.41 GAA, which is fifth in CCHA single-season history, and a .945 save percentage. He also moved into fourth place on Miami's career goalie wins list with his five on the month, as he has 44 for his career, including a career-high-tying 13 this year.
In addition to Miami's two CCHA Goaltender of the Month awards, the RedHawks have claimed three other CCHA monthly awards this year as junior forward Reilly Smith has earned CCHA Player of the Month for November and January while freshman forward Austin Czarnik was CCHA Rookie of the Month for November.
Knapp and the fourth-seeded No. 9/11 RedHawks begin CCHA Tournament play March 9-11 by hosting a best-of-three quarterfinal series against fifth-seeded and No. 14/15 Michigan State at Steve Cady Arena. Tickets are on sale now for the series and can be purchased here.
--MURedHawks.com--
