Two Purple Eagles and Two Tigers Earn TTUSA Weekly Awards
The four Travel Team USA weekly awards were split evenly between the two teams who recorded sweeps over the weekend, Niagara and RIT. Taking home honors are Derian Plouffe, Matt Abt, Brian Wilson, and Logan Drackett.
Player of the Week
Derian Plouffe – Niagara
Senior, Forward – Shawville, QC/Smiths Falls Bears
Plouffe tied for the conference lead in scoring over the weekend, notching two goals and two assists in Niagara’s road sweep of Sacred Heart. Plouffe scored the game-winning goal on Friday, helping the Purple Eagles erase a 2-0 deficit to post a 3-2 victory. The following afternoon, Plouffe set up the game-winning goal, assisting on Eric Cooley’s shorthanded tally.
Defensive Player of the Week
Matt Abt – RIT
Senior, Defense – Leduc, ALB/Whitecourt Wolverines
Abt scored a pair of goals as RIT swept a road series at Army West Point for the first two wins of the 2017-18 season. Both goals came in the 5-4 Tiger win over the Black Knights on Friday, a game in which he also finished with a plus-one rating.
Goalie of the Week
Brian Wilson – Niagara
Freshman, Goalie – Pickering, ONT/Powell River Kings
Wilson earned his first two collegiate wins, leading Niagara to a road sweep of Sacred Heart. He stopped 37 of 39 shots in the two games, boasting a 0.949 save percentage and a 1.02 goals against average. Wilson came on in relief of Guillaume Therien in Friday’s game with Niagara trailing 2-0. He stopped all 13 shots he faced, allowing Niagara to post a 3-2, comeback victory. He then made 24 saves on 26 shots in Saturday’s 6-2 win.
Rookie of the Week
Logan Drackett – RIT
Freshman, Goalie – Calgary, ALB/Calgary Canucks
Drackett made 56 saves on 61 shots as the rookie picked up his first two collegiate victories at Army West Point last weekend. He stopped 26 shots for his first career win on Friday, then made 30 saves on 31 shots, including 17 in the third period, to beat Army 3-1.
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