USHL Honors - Week 12

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the 12th week of the 2009-10 USHL regular season.

Congratulations to forward Chase Grant of the Fargo Force, named Reebok Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Austin Coldwell of the Des Moines Buccaneers, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Steve Summerhays of the Green Bay Gamblers who earned honors as the USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Grant scored five goals and registered a plus-three rating in helping the Force earn five of a possible six points in the standings during the week. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native netted two goals and fired a game high seven shots in the 5-4 shootout loss to Des Moines on Wednesday. He scored the winning goal in Friday's 3-2 overtime win over Sioux Falls. The 20-year-old then tallied two more goals in the 4-1 win against Sioux City on Saturday. He is currently riding a four-game point streak (5g, 2a) and has scored 18 points (11g, 7a) in 25 games this season. It is his second USHL campaign after collecting 28 points (10g, 18a) in 57 games for the Force last season.

Coldwell recorded three points (2g, 1a) and a plus-three rating which helped the Buccaneers capture two victories during the week. The 19-year-old scored the first goal of the game and registered a game high plus-three rating in the 5-4 shootout win over Fargo on Wednesday. Coldwell then added a goal in the 6-5 victory vs. Waterloo on Saturday. The Bucs hold a 7-1-0 record this season when he scores a goal. Playing in his first USHL season, the native of Vancouver, Washington leads Des Moines defenseman with 15 points (8g, 7a) in 25 games which also ranks tied for eighth in scoring among League blueliners.

Summerhays posted a 1.95 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage leading the Gamblers to three straight victories during the week. He stopped 18 shots in the 5-2 win vs. Cedar Rapids on Tuesday before turning away 29 shots in the 5-2 win over Lincoln on Friday. The 19-year-old then made 20 saves and denied all five Tri-City attempts in the shootout of Saturday' 3-2 shootout victory. The native of Anchorage, Alaska has won eight straight starts in net for the Gamblers and has compiled a 14-2-1 season record. Summerhays is competing in his second USHL season and currently ranks second among all League goaltenders with a 2.15 GAA.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 31st season of junior hockey in 2009-10. With over 175 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 13 NHL Entry Draft picks currently on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)