WAKEFIELD, Mass. – One day after being named Atlantic Hockey’s Rookie of the Month for a highly productive January, Niagara University freshman Ludwig Stenlund has been named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) Rookie of the Month. Stenlund is just the second Purple Eagle ever to be named the HCA’s Rookie of the Month, after Chris Moran (’10) was the organization’s first-year honoree in November 2006.
Stenlund racked up 10 points (5 G, 5 A) in six games for the Purple Eagles and ended January as the only freshman in Atlantic Hockey’s top 10 in scoring, finishing in a tie for fifth. In five of the team’s six games, he posted multi-point outings. He was the AHA only player to record two goals while shorthanded in January, and bookended the month with three-point performances against RIT (Jan. 4) and Mercyhurst (Jan. 19). His four-point weekend against the Lakers helped Niagara earn their second conference sweep of the season.
This marks the second time this season that Stenlund has been recognized for his play at the national level. The native of Skellefteå, Sweden aided the Purple Eagles to a sweep over rival Canisius in a home-and-home set on November 15 and 17, finishing the series with three goals and three assists. That production made Stenlund the NCAA’s Third Star of the Week on November 20.
Stenlund joins an elite club of Niagara players to earn an HCA monthly award. Along with Moran, Sean Bentivoglio (’06) also won an HCA award in November 2006 as the national Player of the Month. Bryan Haczyk (’11) was the program’s most recent award winner, earning HCA Player of the Month honors following a 15-point January in 2011 that was capped off by a school-record 21-game point streak.
The Niagara men’s hockey team will return to Dwyer Arena on Friday, Feb. 8 with a 7 p.m. puck drop against Sacred Heart. The contest will open a four-game homestand for the Purple Eagles, who will host six of their final seven regular season games.
