UConn's Rob Nichols leads Three Stars of the Week

Here are the top three standout performers this week in men's ice hockey.

1 – Rob Nichols, UConn

The junior goalie from Dallas, Texas stopped 82 of 83 shots this week over two games against Maine. In Friday night’s contest, Nichols posted a shutout in a 1-0 Huskies win, stopping all 44 shots he faced including 21 in the second period. On Saturday, Nichols stopped 38 of 39 shots in a 1-1 overtime tie. For the year, Nichols holds a 2.75 goals against average, while posting a .913 save percentage.
 
2 – Tyler Motte, Michigan

The junior forward from St. Clair, Michigan, led Michigan to a win and a tie with rival Ohio State. On Jan. 15 he scored the Wolverines' first goal and assisted on another in a 5-5 tie. Two days later he scored a hat trick and added a pair of assists as Michigan rallied from a 5-3 deficit to win 8-6. Currently he is on a five-game goal and point streak where he has totaled seven goals and five assists. For the year he is tied for the team lead with 18 goals and ranks third on the roster with 28 points.
 
3 – Michael Bitzer, Bemidji State

The sophomore goalkeeper from Moorhead, Minnesota, picked up a pair of shutout wins for Bemidji State as the Beavers blanked Arizona State over the weekend.  Bitzer stopped all 17 shots he faced in the first game, a 5-0 Bemidji State victory, and then backed it up with 18 saves in the second contest, a 2-0 win.  The shutouts were Bitzer’s third and fourth of the year and extended the Beaver’s unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1).  He also has a personal unbeaten streak of five games (4-0-1). For the year Bitzer boasts a 2.07 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.