DULUTH, Minn. -- Sophomore Shane Brancato (Lake Villa, Ill.) has been named Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Defensive Player of the Week following a strong weekend in net leading the team to an early 2-0 record in NCHA play.
Brancato is the first Thunder student-athlete to be named player of the week this season and the first time the sophomore has earned the award in his career.
Trine finished the weekend with an opening NCHA weekend sweep over visiting Concordia University Wisconsin with Brancato starting both games in net.
On Friday the team came from behind in the third period to come up with a 4-2 victory. In net Brancato finished the game with 13 saves while allowing just the two goals. Then on Saturday the team never trailed in the contest and Brancato finished with 19 saves while allowing just one goal in a 4-1 victory.
The team will next take the ice when they travel to face Adrian College on Friday, Nov. 19. That contest is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.