Squires, Olver take CCHA honors

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that forward Greg Squires of Western Michigan has been named the CCHA Rookie of the Month for January.

Squires, who plans to major in exercise science, notched eight points in 10 games in the month and moved into a tie for seventh in scoring among CCHA rookies.

He recorded a point in seven of 10 games including five straight games with an assist.

The Broncos were 3-1-1 during Squires’ assist streak, which included the freshman’s only multi-point performance (1-1-2) in a 2-2 tie at Ohio State. The White Plains, N.Y., native added an assist the next night, January 24, to pick up CCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his performance.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound forward also recorded a power-play goal against Brown and an assist against Northeastern in this year’s Dodge Holiday Classic. Squires finished the month with five power-play points and his eight total points with the man advantage ranks his fourth among CCHA rookies.

Defenseman Nick Bailen of Bowling Green, goaltender Taylor Nelson of Ferris State and goaltender Connor Knapp of Miami earned special mention for CCHA Rookie of the Month for January.

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The Central Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that sophomore forward Mark Olver of Northern Michigan has been named the RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month for January.

Olver, a 2008 draft pick of Colorado, averaged one-and-a-half points-per game tying him for the CCHA lead in points and placing eighth in the country for January.

The Northern Michigan sophomore was named CCHA Offensive Player of the Week for his 2-2-4 line at Wisconsin on January 2 and 3. Olver ended the month strongly with five points (1-4-5) in a January 30-31 series against Western Michigan.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound forward, increased his season offensive output from nine to 21 points in January, had a hand in 50 percent of the Wildcats scoring that weekend leading them to a two-game sweep.

The Burnaby, B.C., native, who led the Wildcats in scoring and earned CCHA All-Rookie honors in 2007-08, notched five goals and seven assists in January to take the Northern Michigan scoring lead.

Olver scored two game-winning goals, most among CCHA players in January, and also recorded both a power-play and shorthanded tally. Finishing the month with a +7 rating, the sophomore forward notched multiple points in three games and had at least one point in six of eight games in January.

Special mention for RBC Financial Group CCHA Player of the Month honors goes to Alaska sophomore forward Kevin Petovello, Bowling Green sophomore forward Dan Sexton, Ferris State sophomore forward Mike Embach, Lake Superior State sophomore forward Rick Schofield, Miami junior forward Jarod Palmer, Michigan sophomore forward Aaron Palushaj, Notre Dame senior goaltender Jordan Pearce, Ohio State senior forward Corey Elkins and Western Michigan senior forward Patrick Galivan.