Bowling Green State University Athletics
Rauhauser and Kruse Named to WCHA Player of the Month Accolades
February 01, 2018 | Ice Hockey
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – After earning an 8-2-0 record in the month of January, the No. 14 Bowling Green hockey program garnered a pair of WCHA Player of the Month accolades. Sophomore defenseman Alec Rauhauser's 14 point January earned him WCHA Defensive Player of the Month, while freshman forward Brandon Kruse's 11 point performance awarded him WCHA Rookie of the Month.
A native of Bismarck, N.D., Rauhauser led the WCHA by posting one goal and 13 assists through 10 games played in the month of January. The defenseman started out the month strong as he helped the Falcons to its first Great Lakes Invitational title in program history with three points, earning him GLI All-Tournament Team honors in addition to his second WCHA Defenseman of the Week award of the season.
Through his 10 games played, Rauhauser sported a team-leading 1.40 points per game, as well as a WCHA topping 1.30 assists per game, in addition to a plus-8 rating on the ice. For his 14 points, the defenseman appeared on the box score in nine of the month's 10 games, including four multi-point performances. Rauhauser also tied his career-high three point night by a trio of assists in the 6-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 19), and totaled nine blocked shots on the month.
A native of Saline, Mich., Kruse was honored with his first WCHA Rookie of the Month award after garnering a two consecutive Rookie of the Week accolades (Jan. 22, Jan. 29). In January, the forward scored points in six of the month's 10 games, including three multi-point performances. His 11 points were third-most of the Bowling Green squad, and led the WCHA freshman class as well as ranked fifth overall in the league.
An offensive standout in the month of January, Kruse scored back-to-back game-winning goals against Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 20) and against Lake Superior State (Jan. 26). On two occasions, Kruse also set a career-high three-point night as he earned one goal and two assists in the 3-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage and three assists in the 3-2 win at Lake Superior State, giving Kruse a hand in all three of the Falcons goals in both games.
On the season, Rauhauser currently leads the nation in defenseman points per game (1.03) and is tied for 12th in assists per game (0.80). Also nationally ranked, Kruse is ranked eighth in the nation in freshman points per game (0.83).
The award marks Rauhauser's second WCHA Defensive Player of the Month accolade of his career after earning the nod in November, while it is Kruse's first career WCHA monthly award.
The Bowling Green hockey program will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3 as it hosts WCHA foe Michigan Tech for the final home series of the regular season. For more information on the Bowling Green hockey team, follow them on Twitter and Instagram @BGFalconHockey.
WCHA Offensive Player of the Month
Troy Loggins, Jr., Northern Michigan
WCHA Defensive Player of the Month
Alec Rauhauser, So., Bowling Green
WCHA Goaltender of the Month
Connor LaCouvee, Sr., Minnesota State
WCHA Rookie of the Month
Brandon Kruse, Fr., Bowling Green
A native of Bismarck, N.D., Rauhauser led the WCHA by posting one goal and 13 assists through 10 games played in the month of January. The defenseman started out the month strong as he helped the Falcons to its first Great Lakes Invitational title in program history with three points, earning him GLI All-Tournament Team honors in addition to his second WCHA Defenseman of the Week award of the season.
Through his 10 games played, Rauhauser sported a team-leading 1.40 points per game, as well as a WCHA topping 1.30 assists per game, in addition to a plus-8 rating on the ice. For his 14 points, the defenseman appeared on the box score in nine of the month's 10 games, including four multi-point performances. Rauhauser also tied his career-high three point night by a trio of assists in the 6-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 19), and totaled nine blocked shots on the month.
A native of Saline, Mich., Kruse was honored with his first WCHA Rookie of the Month award after garnering a two consecutive Rookie of the Week accolades (Jan. 22, Jan. 29). In January, the forward scored points in six of the month's 10 games, including three multi-point performances. His 11 points were third-most of the Bowling Green squad, and led the WCHA freshman class as well as ranked fifth overall in the league.
An offensive standout in the month of January, Kruse scored back-to-back game-winning goals against Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 20) and against Lake Superior State (Jan. 26). On two occasions, Kruse also set a career-high three-point night as he earned one goal and two assists in the 3-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage and three assists in the 3-2 win at Lake Superior State, giving Kruse a hand in all three of the Falcons goals in both games.
On the season, Rauhauser currently leads the nation in defenseman points per game (1.03) and is tied for 12th in assists per game (0.80). Also nationally ranked, Kruse is ranked eighth in the nation in freshman points per game (0.83).
The award marks Rauhauser's second WCHA Defensive Player of the Month accolade of his career after earning the nod in November, while it is Kruse's first career WCHA monthly award.
The Bowling Green hockey program will be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3 as it hosts WCHA foe Michigan Tech for the final home series of the regular season. For more information on the Bowling Green hockey team, follow them on Twitter and Instagram @BGFalconHockey.
WCHA Offensive Player of the Month
Troy Loggins, Jr., Northern Michigan
WCHA Defensive Player of the Month
Alec Rauhauser, So., Bowling Green
WCHA Goaltender of the Month
Connor LaCouvee, Sr., Minnesota State
WCHA Rookie of the Month
Brandon Kruse, Fr., Bowling Green
Players Mentioned
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