The final weekend of the regular season certainly lived up to expectations with overtime games, shutouts, and an outdoor game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. The last Travel Team USA Weekly Awards of the 2016-17 season have been awarded to Matt Abt, Janis Jaks, Charles Williams, and Jacob Coleman.
Player of the Week
Matt Abt – RIT
Junior, Defense – Leduc, ALB/Whitecourt Wolverines
Abt recorded a career-high three points on two goals and an assist and was plus-2 in a 7-1 win over Mercyhurst to wrap up the season Saturday night. Abt scored the eventual game-winning goal, a one-timer on the power-play midway through the first period. He went coast-to-coast on the rush for the primary assist on Garrett McMullen’s second period goal and added his second goal of the night on a 2-on-1 rush early in the third period. He now has 13 points on three goals and 10 assists this season.
Defensive Player of the Week
Janis Jaks – AIC
Freshman, Defense – Lecava, Latvia/Minnesota Wilderness
Jaks had two timely goals for his two points over the weekend. He had the game-tying goal in a 1-1 result against Army on Thursday, February 23, and then the game-winning goal in overtime against the Black Knights on Saturday. Jaks was part of a defense that held Army to just two goals during the series and he finished plus-1 on the weekend.
Goalie of the Week
Charles Williams – Canisius
Senior, Goalie – Canton, MI/Ferris State
Williams posted his fifth shutout of the season in Canisius’ only game of the week, a win that turned out to be very important as the Golden Griffins finished one point ahead of Air Force to claim their first Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Championship. Williams stopped all 32 shots he faced on Thursday against Mercyhurst for the win. He raised his league save percentage to 0.947 and lowered his GAA to 1.69, two of the best marks in Atlantic Hockey history.
Rookie of the Week
Jacob Coleman – Robert Morris
Freshman, Forward – Pittsburgh, PA/Muskegon Lumberjacks
Jacob Coleman scored his first career goal to cap off the Colonials 5-1 win over Niagara to close the regular season in an outdoor game at Heinz Field. Coleman dealt two assists in the game as well, scoring a career-high three points in his hometown NFL stadium. Coleman was also plus-three on the weekend.
