WINTHROP, Mass. – After a record-breaking performance in the faceoff circle and a two-goal series against Canisius, Eric Butte took home Atlantic Hockey’s Player of the Week award. This is the second AHA weekly honor of Butte’s career.
Butte put together a pair of strong games in this weekend’s Army West Point hockey series against Canisius. The senior captain kicked off the weekend with a record-breaking performance in the faceoff circle, winning 24-of-32 draws and setting new program highs in faceoff wins (24) and faceoff percentage (75.0; min. 15 faceoffs). Butte added an assist in the contest on Army’s first goal that came off a faceoff win. The Massachusetts native now ranks 12th in the nation in total faceoff wins with 224, a mark that is good for tops in Atlantic Hockey.
Butte went back to work in game two of the series, helping the Cadets earn three key conference points by scoring two goals. On his first goal the senior skated through the Canisius defense and lifted a backhand shot over the goalie’s shoulder and into the back of the net. The second tally, an empty-netter, came with just ten seconds left in regulation and effectively sealed the win for the Cadets.
