Moore, Israel, Starrett, and Spriggs Earn Travel Team USA Weekly Awards
With several big-time wins for Atlantic Hockey teams during the first full weekend of the 2016-17 regular season, Atlantic Hockey has announced its Travel Team USA Weekly Award winners. The Atlantic Hockey Players of the Week are Holy Cross junior TJ Moore, Robert Morris sophomore defenseman Eric Israel, Air Force sophomore Shane Starrett, and Niagara freshman Kris Spriggs.
Player of the Week
TJ Moore – Holy Cross
Junior, Forward – Edina, MN/Benilde-St. Margaret’s
Moore started out the 2016-17 season with a bang, notching a pair of hat tricks, and eight total points, in a 1-0-1 weekend at Niagara. Moore scored three goals in Holy Cross’ 8-1 win over the Purple Eagles on Friday, then tallied a second hat trick in the first period of Saturday’s game, which ended in a 4-4 tie. His two assists came as part of a five-point game in Friday’s win. Moore is the first Holy Cross player with three career hat tricks and the third Crusader with a hat trick in a single period.
Defensive Player of the Week
Eric Israel – Robert Morris
Sophomore, Defense – Huntington Woods, MI/Brockville Braves
Israel tallied a six-point weekend during a weekend split at RIT, putting himself at the top of the scoring list for defensive players in the nation. Israel notched an assist in Friday’s 6-3 defeat to the Tigers, then scored five points on the first five goals in Saturday’s come-from-behind victory. He scored one goal and had four assists in the win, matching a Robert Morris single-game record for points. Additionally, he blocked four shots on the weekend.
Goalie of the Week
Shane Starrett – Air Force
Sophomore, Goalie – Bellingham, MA/South Shore Kings
Starrett was named the MVP of the 2016 Ice Breaker Tournament after helping Air Force win their first regular season tournament title since 2013. Officially, Starrett and the Falcons went 1-0-1, upsetting No. 5 Boston College, 2-1, and tying Ohio State, 3-3, but won the tournament in a shootout over the Buckeyes. In the two games of the tournament, Starrett stopped 83 of 87 shots for a 0.954 save percentage, while also posting a 1.92 goals against average. He stopped 37 shots against BC on Friday, then set a career-high with 46 saves against Ohio State.
Rookie of the Week
Kris Spriggs – Niagara
Freshman, Forward – Edmonton, AB/Lloydminster Bobcats
Spriggs is tied for the rookie scoring lead in Atlantic Hockey after recording three points in two games against Holy Cross. He scored the first point of his Niagara career on Friday, setting up Larry Smith for the Purple Eagles’ first goal of the season. Then, on Saturday, Spriggs scored one goal and added an assist as Niagara tied Holy Cross, 4-4.
