WCHA honors Muck as Defender of the Month Award
Bemidji State University senior blueliner Tommy Muck has been selected as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defender of the Month following a nine-game January stretch during which he posted nine points (1g-8a) and led the Beavers to a 7-1-1 record.
Muck tied for fifth in league scoring in January – and fifth in defenseman scoring nationally – with nine points on a goal and eight assists, which accounts for 31 percent of the senior’s career scoring output. The Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native tallied a WCHA-best six power-play points for the month (1g-5a) to lead a Beaver special teams unit that was 11-for-30 (.367) in January as BSU stormed to a 7-1-1 record for the month. His power-play point and assist totals led the league. The co-captain also absorbed a team-high 14 blocked shots for the month.
Muck currently ranks seventh on the team, and second among BSU defensemen, with career-high 15 points (3g-12a) through 28 games. With six regular-season games remaining in his senior season, Muck already has established career highs in goals and assists.
The award is the first of its kind for Muck and marks the second time a BSU student-athlete has been recognized with a WCHA monthly award this season. Adam Brady was selected for the league’s Forward of the Month honor following his play in November.
In addition to Muck, Northern Michigan University’s Darien Craighead was selected as the league’s Forward of the Month, Nolan Kent earned top goaltender honors and A.J. Vanderbeck was named WCHA Rookie of the Month.
All league honorees will be forwarded on to the Hockey Coaches Association as nominees for the organization’s national player of the month awards.
Bemidji State, now 16-8-4 overall and 16-4-2-1 in WCHA play, will break from play next weekend to prepare for the final three weeks of the season, the right to host the WCHA playoffs and a run at the regular-season title. The Beavers return to action Feb. 14-15 when it travels to Marquette, Mich. for a two-game series with Northern Michigan University.