UND Freshman Connor Gaarder named WCHA Rookie of the Week

Valley News Live

GRAND FORKS, N.D. –North Dakota freshman forward Connor Gaarder (pronounced ‘gorder’) has been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Week for his performance in UND’s non-conference series with Harvard last weekend.

Gaarder collected four points and was a +3 in the series to help lead UND to a win and a tie against the Crimson. In Saturday’s 7-3 win, Gaarder had a power-play goal and two assists for the first multi-point game of his career. One night earlier, the Edina, Minn., native scored his first collegiate goal to put UND ahead 4-1 in an eventual 4-4 overtime tie.

Gaarder now has six points (2g, 4a) in his last five games after opening his career with one assist in his first six games. He became the second UND freshman to earn WCHA Rookie of the Week honors this season, joining forward Brendan O’Donnell, who was honored on Dec. 6.

Denver junior forward Drew Shore was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while DU freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora was named WCHA Rookie of the Week.

UND’s WCHA Players of the Week

Nov. 29: Brock Nelson (Co-Offensive)
Dec. 6: Brock Nelson (Offensive), Brendan O’Donnell (Rookie)
Dec. 13: Aaron Dell (Defensive)
Jan. 4: Connor Gaarder (Rookie)