Freshman goaltender Chris Rawlings was named the Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week as announced by the Hockey East league office Monday evening. Rawlings was Northeastern’s defensive anchor in a pair of victories that sealed the Ledyard National Bank Classic this past weekend at Dartmouth College.
The North Delta, British Columbia native recorded his second-career shutout in a 7-0 rout over host-Dartmouth in the first round of the tournament, turning away 32 shots along the way. In the championship contest against UMass Lowell on Sunday night, Rawlings made 28 saves in a 2-1 victory.
The triumph clinched the Huskies first tournament title since claiming the Badger Classic on Dec. 28-29, 2008.
Monday’s honor marks the second award for Northeastern’s rookie netminder. Rawlings was tapped Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on Nov. 9, 2009 after attaining his first-ever shutout against Boston University, stopping a career-best 43 shots in a 1-0 victory. Rawlings backed up the performance with 29 more saves at Boston College the next night. The 6’5 goalie became the Huskies’ second-ever netminder to shut out Boston University.
Rawlings has started 15-of-17 games for Northeastern and increased his overall record to 7-7-1 with the pair of wins in Hanover, N.H.
After allowing just one goal in 120 minutes this weekend, Rawlings lowered his goals against average to 2.76. Rawlings has stopped 443 of the 483 total shots he’s faced this season, totaling a .917 save percentage.
Amongst Hockey East company, the rookie is third in save percentage (.917), better than nine other goalies in the conference. Rawlings’ goals against average (2.76) currently ranks fifth.
Rawlings’ proficiency has Northeastern’s scoring defense in a tie with Providence for second, allowing just 2.71 goals per game.
Classmate Garrett Vermeersch was handed the first Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week award of the season on Oct. 12, 2009 after scoring consecutive powerplay goals in the opening trip at Colorado College. The Macomb, Mich. native also secured his first-career multi-point performance with an assist in the Huskies’ first victory of the season on Oct. 10, 4-3.
Rawlings joins Colby Cohen (Boston University) and Justin Milo (Vermont) as Athletic Republic Co-Players of the Week while Sunday’s opposing goaltender, Carter Hutton (UMass-Lowell), was tapped as Pure Hockey Defensive Player of the Week.
Northeastern reunites with UMass Lowell on Saturday, Jan. 9 at Matthews Arena, marking the first game home game since a 2-1 win against Merrimack on Dec. 5. Saturday’s Hockey East contest also marks the debut of the newly-refurbished Matthews Arena on television. The contest will be broadcast on NESN at 7:30 p.m.
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