Tuesday, February 01, 2011

WMU's Balisy earns CCHA honors

CCHA Press Release

The CCHA announced today that forward Chase Balisy of Western Michigan has been named the CCHA Rookie of the Month for January. This is the first time Balisy has earned this honor this season.

The 6-foot, 175 pound forward has been instrumental in helping Western Michigan to an 11-game unbeaten streak (7-0-4), which is currently the nation’s longest. Balisy led the Broncos to a 4-0-4 record in January, netting five goals and adding seven assists for 12 points on the month, including one game-winning tally. He scored multiple-points in four of his eight games and finished the month with a +7 rating. His 1.50 points-per-game average led all CCHA rookies in January and his 12 points were just one point shy of the rookie lead for the month.

Balisy, who played for USA Hockey’s NTDP last season, opened the month in Alaska, where he had one assist in the second game of the series. The following weekend saw the Broncos host Ohio State, where Balisy tallied a 2-1-3 chart on Friday including the game-winning goal and notched another goal the following night. His performance against the Buckeyes earned him his first CCHA Rookie of the Week honor.

The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., native was held scoreless in the following contest against Lake Superior State, but then ended the month on a three-game, multi-point streak, starting the following night against the Lakers where he potted a goal and an assist. He completed the month by registering a 2-3-5 scoring line in a sweep of Northern Michigan, including a goal and two assists in a 6-2, Saturday night victory

Special mention for CCHA Rookie of the Month honors goes to Alaska forward Cody Kunyk, Lake Superior State goaltender Kevin Kapalka, Michigan State goaltender Will Yanakeff and Notre Dame forward Anders Lee.

Photo courtesy GS Photo

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