Three Stars (Week 15)

Alex Killorn

First Star: Alex Killorn (Harvard)

The Crimson had a very good weekend at the Bright Hockey Center, and the senior assistant captain had a lot to do with it. On Friday, Harvard topped rival Yale 4-3, and then followed that up with a 3-1 win over Brown. Both wins were huge for the Crimson, who are looking to secure a first round bye in the ECAC playoffs. In each game, Killorn scored the game-winning goal. He potted the game-winner over the Bulldogs with 1:19 left in regulation, and added another goal 55 seconds into the second period to tie the game at two. The next night, Killorn once again gave his team the lead for good when he scored with  7:42 left in the game before Danny Biega sealed it with an empty netter later in the period. He has scored eight goals in his past 10 games. All great teams have great senior leaders that lead on the ice and can put the team on their back when needed... it's pretty safe to say that Harvard has that guy in Killorn. He is the only Crimson player with double-digit goals (14) and leads the team with 26 points.

Austin Smith

Second Star (tied): Austin Smith (Colgate) & Chris Wagner (Colgate)

Where would the Raiders be without Smith and Wagner? These two studs have single-handedly carried their team on their backs this season. They have accumulated 75 points between the two of them, while the rest of the roster has totalled 138 points, and have scored 36 of Colgate's 81 goals.

The Raider were winless in their last six contests coming into this weekend's home-and-home with #6/#9 Cornell, the top team in the league. While Smith and Wagner were still producing during this span (Smith - 5 goals, 7 points; Wagner - 2 goals, 8 points), they knew they had to step up this weekend if they wanted to salvage any points against the Big Red. And they did...

Chris Wagner

In Friday's 2-1 win at a hostile Lynah Rink, Wagner gave the Raiders an early 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal, which was assisted by Smith. The next night at Starr Rink, Smith tied the game at one midway through the first period with Wagner getting the primary assist on the play. Then with the Raiders down 3-2 in the third period, Smith scored his nation-leading sixth shorthanded goal on another primary assist from Wagner. The Raiders received their first lead of the game with 5:06 remaining in regulation with Wagner once again got the primary assist, but this time on Robbie Bourdon's power-play goal. Colgate completed the stunning sweep with a 5-3 victory. So, if you're keeping track at home, Smith had two goals and assist over the weekend, while Wagner added a goal and three assists.

Smith has been getting a lot of press this season, which is well deserved. He currently leads the nation with 26 goals and 41 points in 26 games, and has only gone pointless in two of Colgate's games. While Smith has been the most potent player in the ECAC, Wagner has been excellent as well, but he hasn't received as much press. In his past 12 games he has accumulated 21 points, and has only gone pointless in one of those games. I think people should start giving the sophomore some more love. 

Troy Grosenick

Third Star: Troy Grosenick (Union)

It was another good weekend for the nation's leader in goals-against average (1.58). On Friday he made 30 saves in Union's 5-2 win over Clarkson, and then made 26 saves in the 6-0 shutout of St. Lawrence. The shutout was his fourth of the season. Grosenick is also second in the nation in save percentage (.940), but the leader in SV%, Chris Noonan of Niagara, has only played 15 games while Grosenick has played in 23. If the sophomore can keep up this pace and the Dutchmen make a run into the ECAC playoffs and national tournament, he can be a legitimate contender for the Hobey Baker Award.

Honorable Mention:

Tyler Sikura (Dartmouth): 1g, 1a; 1g

Patrick Cullen (RPI): 1g, 2a; 1a

Nick Tremblay (Clarkson): 1g; 1g

Kyle Bodie (Union): 1g, 2a; 1a

Wayne Simpson (Union): 1g; 3a

Matt Hatch (Union): 2g, 1a

Joe WIlson (Colgate): 1g; 1g, 2a

Eric Mihalik (Colgate): 17 saves (1GA); 22 saves (3GA)

Kenny Agostino (Yale): 1a; 2g

Steve Michalek (Harvard): 36 saves (3GA); 24 saves (1GA)