(UND Athletics/Russell Hons)
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Following a sweep over top-10 St. Cloud State to close out the first half of the season, Sacha Boisvert (rookie), T.J. Semptimphelter (goaltender) and Abram Wiebe (defenseman) each picked up weekly honors from the NCHC on Monday afternoon.
Boisvert claimed NCHC Rookie of the Week honors for the third time this season after finishing the weekend with a goal and an assist over the two games against the Huskies. The forward was one of only two UND players to notch a point in both games, notching the primary helper on UND’s first goal of the weekend on Friday before bringing Saturday’s contest level at 3-3 in the third period before the eventual OT victory.
The Trois-Rivières, Québec, native closes out the first half of the season with points in eight of his last nine games, including five straight NCHC contests, while pacing the squad with eight goals and 17 points. Boisvert also leads all rookies in the NCHC and sits fifth nationally in points while his goals are second in the conference and tied for fifth in the NCAA among freshmen.
Semptimphelter was at his best between the pipes in the sweep, earning his first NCHC Goaltender of the Week honor. The graduate student finished the weekend with 47 saves on 50 shots against to post a .940 save percentage and a 1.48 goals against average while going 2-0-0. He was perfect in Friday’s 2-0 victory, stopping all 24 shots fired his way to tally his first shutout in a UND uniform and ninth of his career. In the finale, Semptimphelter might have been even better with 23 saves on 26 shots against, including a trio of massive saves in the 3-on-3 overtime session, to help NoDak rally for the 4-3 win.
The Marlton, N.J., native is currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak dating back to Nov. 30 into the holiday break and currently leads all NCHC goalies with six wins during conference play.
Wiebe makes it back-to-back weeks with an honor, picking up the NCHC Defenseman of the Week award once again. The sophomore made his impact felt in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Huskies, tallying his third multi-point outing over the last four games with a goal and an assist. He scored his fourth goal of the season late in the second period on the power play to knot the contest at 2-2 before notching the secondary helper on Jake Schmaltz’s overtime winner. Wiebe also finished the weekend with three blocked shots and fired six shots on goal.
The Mission, British Columbia, native has two goals and four assists over his last four games to climb into a tie for second on the team with 14 points (4G, 10A). He has also been lethal against NCHC foes so far, tying for the team lead and sitting tied for third in the league with eight points (3G, 5A) in just eight games.
North Dakota will enjoy a break before returning to action on Jan. 4 for an exhibition contest against Manitoba at 6:07 p.m. from Ralph Engelstad Arena.
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