DULUTH, Minn. – Sophomore Payton Hans has been named this week's Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Offensive Player of the Week after leading the team to a sweep of visiting Lawrence University and securing the sixth-seed in the upcoming Slaats Cup Playoffs.
This is the third time this season a Thunder student-athlete has won the weekly honor. It is the second time this season and in Hans' career that she has earned the recognition.
Hans began the weekend doubleheader by tallying a goal in Friday's 3-0 victory over the visiting Vikings. After a scoreless first period the Thunder scored the lone goal of the second and then two more in the third. Hans iced the game with the final goal of the night coming in the 14th minute of the final stanza.
Saturday's contest also started with a scoreless first period. This time Hans would score the first goal of the game in the second and then added two more in the third to finish the game with a hat-trick. It is the fourth time this season that the sophomore has posted a hat-trick for Trine.
The Thunder next take the ice when they travel to face Aurora University for the opening round of the NCHA Slaats Cup Playoffs. The first of the two-game series is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Friday, February 24.