LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell junior goalie
Christoffer Hernberg (Espoo, Finland) has been named the Hockey East Player of the Week after backstopping the River Hawks to a Hockey East sweep last weekend.
Hernberg kicked aside 56 of 58 shots, a .966 save percentage, as UMass Lowell defeated UConn twice and moved into a second place tie in Hockey East. The River Hawks topped UConn Friday night at the Tsongas Center, 5-2, as Hernberg made 23 saves. He followed that up with a scintillating 33 save performance to pick up his second shutout of the season and preserve a 1-0 win at the XL Center in Hartford.
"Christoffer continues to progress every week," according to UMass Lowell Head Coach
Norm Bazin. "He is coming off two great weekends and we're happy he is finally being recognized for those strong efforts.."
Hernberg's biggest saves may have come in the second period when he stopped Miles Gendron three times from point blank range and then followed that up moments later with a series of saves against Corey Ronan. The 33 saves matched his season high.
The junior netminder who had only three career starts prior to this season has started nine of UMass Lowell's 14 games this season. He ranks second in the nation with a .946 save percentage and is second with a 1.51 goals against average. He leads Hockey East in both categories.
It is the second time that Hernberg has been honored by Hockey East this season. He was named the Defensive Player of the Week October 23rd after a pair of wins on a tour of the North Country of New York State. Hernberg had been in nets for a win at Clarkson and a shutout of St. Lawrence.
With the weekend sweep UMass Lowell has moved two games over the .500 mark at 8-6-0. The River Hawks are tied for second place in the conference with ten-points and a 5-5-0 record.
