Week of Dec. 13, 2023
Games of Dec. 6-12, 2023
Summaries by Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
Forward: David Utkin, Utah Outliers
The league’s leading goal-scorer, now with 21 on the year, scored both the Outliers’ goals in their 2-1 overtime victory against Idaho Falls on Dec. 9. He also scored the first goal in their 6-1 victory against Provo. The second-year Outlier, an ‘05 from Murmansk, Russia, has 32 points in 22 games this season.
Defense: Grant Hineman, Ogden Mustangs
Hineman (‘04/West Chester, Pa.) put up a goal and three assists for four of his points when the Mustangs swept the Pueblo Bulls over the weekend. Hineman led the Mustangs in plus-minus (+3) and hits (four), while also registering 20 takeaways and blocking three shots. He was also second in average time on ice for the ‘Stangs against Pueblo, skating 20:11 per game.
Goaltender: Philip Rondina, Utah Outliers
Rondina (‘03/Pierrefonds, Que.) remains red hot for Utah, recently stopping 67 of 69 shots fired on him by Idaho Falls and Provo for a .971 weekend save percentage. Rondina has won three in a row with just one goal surrendered in each of those last three wins. In nine games, he has not given up more than two goals in any game. He is 7-2-0-0 and leads the league in GAA (1.00) and save percentage (.964).
Rookie*: Easton Edwards, Idaho Falls Spud Kings
Edwards (‘05/Anchorage, Alaska) registered two goals and added one assist for three points in the Spud Kings’ 4-3 win against the Rock Springs Grizzlies. A former Des Moines Buccaneers AAA and Team Alaska player, Edwards has a 3-1-4 line in his eight games since joining the team in November.
* = no more than 10 Tier II games prior to 2023-24 / ’04 or younger
