Monday, January 3, 2011

USHL Honors - Week 14

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the fourteenth week of the 2010-11 USHL regular season.

Congratulations to forward Blake Coleman of the Indiana Ice, named CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Josiah Didier of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Brady Hjelle of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders who earned honors as the Reebok USHL Goaltender of the Week.

Coleman scored 10 points (3g, 7a) and posted a plus-three rating to lead the Ice to three straight wins. He tallied a pair of power play goals and dished out an assist in the 7-2 win over Youngstown on Tuesday. The 19-year-old then scored his first career USHL shorthanded goal and added an assist in the 5-4 victory against Youngstown on Friday. Coleman completed his week setting a League season high with five assists in the 6-2 win over Waterloo on Sunday. The five-assist game set a team record and equaled a team record for points in a game. The native of Plano, Texas now leads the USHL in scoring with 38 points (13g, 25a) in 26 games.

Didier recorded four points (2g, 2a) and a plus-five rating as the Riders won a pair of games before the end of 2010. He dished out two assists, including a helper on the game-winning goal, in the 5-2 win against Waterloo on Wednesday. The 17-year-old then scored his first career USHL goal, which proved to be the game-winner, and added a second goal in Friday's 4-0 win over Lincoln. Didier is playing in his first USHL season and the native of Littleton, Colorado ranks tied for second on the club with a plus-12 rating to go along with 11 points (2g, 9a) in 23 games. He has posted a plus-nine rating over his last four games.

Hjelle turned aside 45 shots in leading Cedar Rapids to a pair of victories. He made 19 saves in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Waterloo. The 20-year-old then stopped all 26 shots he faced in the 4-0 win over Lincoln on Friday to record his League-leading fourth shutout of the season. Hjelle has been in net for each contest of the team's current five-game win streak. He has allowed just five goals over that span, which has included two shutouts. It is the second consecutive weekly honor for the native of International Falls, Minnesota and the third time this season he has earned the goaltender award.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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