By: Perry Laskaris, Athletics Communications Specialist
TROY, N.Y. – ECAC Hockey has announced its monthly award winners from men’s hockey and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Simon Kjellberg has been named Rookie of the Month.
A freshman defenseman from Nashville, Tenn., Kjellberg recorded two goals and two assists for four points in five October games. He notched one goal and two assists on the power play for three points and was +3 rating for the month, with eight shots and seven blocks at the defensive end. Scoring on 25% of his shots, he has yet to take a penalty.
Kjellberg ranked first among ECAC Hockey rookies in goals, points, goals per game (0.40), points per game (0.80), power play assists, power play points, and plus/minus. He registered two multi-point contests in his just his second and third collegiate contests, scoring his first NCAA goal in RPI’s 5-3 win at UConn on October 12. He then notched a goal and an assist in his Houston Field House debut against the Huskies on October 18.
In 58 games for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2018-19, Kjellberg notched two goals and three assists for five points with 10 penalty minutes. Selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, he registered nine points on four goals and five assists for Rogle BK J20 in the SuperElit in 2017-18.
The Engineers (3-3-0; 1-1-0 ECAC Hockey) were idle last weekend, but return to the ice this Friday and Saturday, when they host St. Lawrence University and No. 8 Clarkson University, respectively. Puck drop is set for 7pm on both night.
