Week of Jan. 11, 2024
Games of Jan. 1-9, 2024
Summaries By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
Forward: Hunter Hayes, Pueblo Bulls
In the Bulls’ trip to Idaho Falls, Hayes was huge for the Bulls offense with three goals (including a game-winner as part of a two-goal game on Jan. 5). He also added one assist for a four-point weekend, improving his overall season total to 18 goals and 28 points in 31 games played. During the weekend, he also won 24 of 38 faceoffs, another huge contribution from the former Philadelphia Little Flyers AAA standout.
Defense: D.J. MacLeish, Idaho Falls Spud Kings
MacLeish (‘05/Troy, Mich.) rang up two goals – including the tying goal in a 6-5 comeback win on Jan. 4 – and added one assist for three points in the Spud Kings’ split weekend with Pueblo. MacLeish led the D with 22:15 of average ice time on the weekend, and also led the Spud Kings with 16 takeaways against the Bulls. He currently has 27 points in 29 games on the season.
Goaltender: Connor Graham, Utah Outliers
A new signing from the NAHL in late December, Graham played the full weekend series against Rock Springs and came out with a 1-0-1 record and a .923 save percentage after stopping 48 of 52 shots faced on the weekend. The ‘04 out of Fort Wayne, Ind., had played his first game on Dec. 30, 2023, where he stopped 46 of 48 shots faced from Pueblo, giving him a 2-0-1-0 record and a .940 save percentage.
Rookie*: Campbell Epp, Provo Predators
Epp (‘06/Winnipeg, Man.) was the Predators’ first round draft pick last year and he’s certainly been paying dividends as a rookie, especially lately. He has four goals in his last four games, and he had two in the Preds’ split against the Ogden Mustangs last year, both coming in their 4-2 victory. He currently has eight points in 27 games.
* = ’04 or younger / 10 or fewer Tier II (or higher) games in prior seasons
