ANGOLA, Ind. -- Sophomore Justin Meers (St. Charles, Mo.) has been named this week's Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Men's Offensive Player of the Week.
It is the first time the NCHA has handed out the award this season. This is the second time that Meers has earned the honor in his career.
Saturday saw the Thunder win their lone contest of the week in thrilling fashion, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to pick up the 3-2 victory in the final seconds over overtime.
Meers was crucial to the victory. His first point of the game came in the tenth minute of the second period when he took advantage of a teammate settling a loose puck in front of the net by firing a shot through heavy traffic. The goal, his first of the season, tied the game at two, eventually forcing overtime.
Meers came up big again in the waning moments of the extra period as he came up with a defensive zone steal and pushed the puck by the last MSOE skater to a streaking Brendan Prappas (West Bloomfield, Mich.) who came up with the decisive goal. Meers was credited with the lone assist on the goal.
The 3-2 victory gave the Thunder a 2-4 overall record and a 1-0 record in the NCHA South Division. They will travel to face Aurora University in their next game. The contest is scheduled for Friday, February 5 at 7 p.m. CST.