Two Wolverines earn monthly honors

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced that senior forward Kevin Porter of the University of Michigan has been named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month for November.

Porter, a 21-year old from Northville, leads the nation in goals (16) and overall points (26) while captaining a Wolverines squad that is ranked No. 2/No. 3 in the respective national polls. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound center produced 12 goals and 18 points while boasting a +12 rating as Michigan posted an impressive 8-1-0 record during November.

Porter, a fourth-round NHL draft pick by Phoenix in 2004, recorded points in eight of nine games in the month. He had five multi-point games including four in a row during a stretch from Nov. 16-24. The 87th captain in Michigan hockey history notched his third career hat trick in a 6-3 road victory over Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 2 and tallied a season-high four points with two goals and two assists during a 5-1 win over Minnesota on Nov. 24 in the College Hockey Showcase. Porter, named the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 19 and Nov. 26, contributed five power-play goals, one shorthanded marker and a game winner in November. He earned a plus rating in eight of nine games during the month and was even in the other contest.

Special mention for RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month honors goes to Bowling Green senior forward Derek Whitmore, Ferris State junior forward Brendan Connolly, Miami junior forward Brian Kaufman, Notre Dame junior forward Erik Condra (Livonia) and Ohio State senior forward Tommy Goebel.

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced that Max Pacioretty of the University of Michigan has been named the CCHA Rookie of the Month for November.

Pacioretty, a 19-year old from New Canaan, Conn., tallied two goals and eight assists in nine games while earning a +12 rating and helping the Wolverines to an 8-1-0 record in November. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward ranks sixth in the nation among freshman scorers with 5-10-15.

Pacioretty, a first-round draft pick (22nd overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, recorded a point in eight of the Wolverines’ nine games in the month of November, including each of the first seven contests from Nov. 2 through Nov. 23. The rookie garnered a plus rating in eight of nine games and was even in the final game of November. Pacioretty boasted a four-point weekend against Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie with a goal and three assists on Nov. 16 and 17. He finished the weekend series with 11 shots on a goal to go with a +3 rating and was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on Nov. 19. Pacioretty scored his first game-winning goal against Wisconsin on Nov. 23. on the power play.

Bowling Green goaltender Nick Eno (Howell), Miami forward Pat Cannone and Nebraska-Omaha defenseman Alain Goulet earned special mention for CCHA Rookie of the Month.