USHL Honors - Week 3

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the CCM and Reebok player awards for the second week of the 2012-13 USHL regular season.

Award winners include Sam Rothstein of the Sioux Falls Stampede and Dominic Toninato of the Fargo Force, named co-recipients of CCM Forward of the Week; James Roll of the Des Moines Buccaneers, selected as CCM Defenseman of the Week; and Cal Petersen of the Waterloo Black Hawks and Billy Christopoulos of the Des Moines Buccaneers who share honors as Reebok Goaltender of the Week.
Rothstein totaled five points (3g, 2a) and a plus-four rating in two games to help the Stampede extend their winning streak to four games.  He netted the game-winner in Friday’s 4-2 victory over Indiana.  The 19-year-old from Minnetonka, Minnesota then recorded a USHL career high four-point game (2g, 2a) in Saturday’s 6-5 overtime win against Fargo.  His first goal came just 21 seconds into the contest and he also finished the night with a game high plus-four rating.  It was the 20^th career USHL game for Rothstein after he appeared in 14 games for the Stampede last season.

Toninato produced six points (3g, 3a) in helping the Force to a 2-0-1 record over the week.  He had multi-point nights in each of the three games.  The 18-year-old netted two goals in Thursday’s 6-5 win over Indiana.  On Friday, he scored a goal and dished out an assist in the 6-3 victory against Sioux City.  Toninato completed the weekend with a pair of assists in the 6-5 overtime loss to Sioux Falls.  The Duluth, Minnesota native is playing in his first full USHL season after suiting up in four games last season.  He was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Roll scored two goals in helping the Buccaneers earn their first two wins of the season.  He scored his first USHL career goal in Friday’s 6-2 win against Omaha which was also the first USHL head coaching victory for Jon Rogger.  The 19-year-old defenseman followed up with a power play goal in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win against Muskegon.  Roll was also part of a penalty kill unit that turned away all seven opponent power play chances during the weekend.  The West Seneca, New York native is playing his first season in the USHL.

Petersen stopped all 25 shots he faced, including 12 in the third period, to lead the Black Hawks to a 2-0 victory against Omaha on Friday.  He was a big part of the team’s penalty kill as they successfully turned away all seven power plays by Omaha.  It was the first start of the season for the Petersen who celebrates his 18^th birthday this week.  It was also the first USHL career shutout for the native of Waterloo, Iowa who appeared in five games for the Black Hawks last season.

Christopoulos earned his first USHL career victory on Saturday when he made a season high 47 saves in the 3-2 shootout win over Muskegon.  It was the most saves made in a contest by a USHL goaltender this season.  The 18-year-old made 19 of his saves in the first period and also stopped two of three attempts in the shootout, the first time he has competed in the USHL extra session.  Christopoulos is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina and has appeared in four games for the Bucs.


(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)