Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Denver's Tyler Bozak Honored as National College Rookie of the Month
Jan. 4, 2008
Farmington Hills, Mich.-- Boston College junior forward Nathan Gerbe, who powered the Eagles to an unblemished 4-0-0 record with a dynamic 16-point performance, is a unanimous choice as the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Player of the Month for December.
Gerbe, a 20-year old from Oxford, Mich., leads the nation in points-per-game average (1.75) and stands second in goals-per-game average (0.94). The 5-foot-5, 165-pound product of USA Hockey's NTDP produced seven goals and nine assists in just four games, all on the road, while boasting a +10 rating for the Eagles, who improved to 8-4-5 on the season while ascending to a No. 11 ranking in the national polls.
Gerbe, a fifth-round NHL draft pick by Buffalo in 2005 who was twice named Hockey East's Player of the Week in December, began the month with a goal and three assists in a 4-3 win over cross-town rival Boston University. One week later he fi red a career-high four goals and added an assist in a 7-2 victory at Harvard. Following the holiday break, Gerbe earned MVP honors at the Dodge Holiday Classic in Minneapolis with a seven-point performance that included a goal and three assists in an 8-2 win over Air Force followed by a goal and two helpers in a 6-0 championship game decision over RIT.
University of Denver freshman center Tyler Bozak, who twice earned WCHA Rookie of the Week honors and tallied 10 scoring points, has been named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Rookie of the Month for December.
Bozak, a 6-foot, 175-pound forward from Regina, Sask., who played three seasons in the BCHL for Victoria, helped the Pioneers to a 6-1 record in December and a current six-game winning streak with a three-goal, seven-assist month. He was named WCHA Rookie of the Week on Dec. 18 for his one-goal, three-assists series in a pair of wins at Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 14-15 and again on Jan. 2 for his four-point performance in the Wells Fargo Denver Cup championship on Dec. 28-29 that came from wins over Sacred Heart and Dartmouth.
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Bozak registered points in six of seven games, including a career-high three assists in DU's 4-3 opening-night win at Alaska Anchorage. He racked up three multi-point games in the month and has two goals, six assists and eight points during his current four-game point streak. He also netted a WCHA-high (tied with CC's Chad Rau) third shorthanded goal of the season in the Pioneers' 5-3 win over Dartmouth.
National Player of the Month
Nathan Gerbe, F, Boston College, HEA
National Rookie of the Month
Tyler Bozak, F, Denver, WCHA
Honorable Mention Player of the Month
Ryan Cruthers, F, Robert Morris, CHA
Mark Dekanich, G, Colgate, ECAC
Josh Heidinger, F, Canisius College, AHA
Billy Sauer, G, Michigan, CCHA
Brock Trotter, F, Denver, WCHA
Honorable Mention Rookie of the Month
Adam Avramenko, G, Niagara, CHA
Carter Camper, F, Miami, CCHA
Brian Day, F, Colgate, ECAC
James Marcou, F, Massachusetts, HEA
Everett Sheen, F, Holy Cross, AHA
