Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Luke Allen, BGSU Athletics
Swankler Earns National Honors, Named HCA Player of the Month
January 04, 2023 | Ice Hockey
Sophomore leads NCAA in points, becomes first Falcon recognized by HCA since October 2018
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Hockey Commissioners Association has announced its National Players of the Month for December. Bowling Green's Austen Swankler was named HCA Player of the Month, adding to his accolades that include CCHA Forward of the Month. He registered six goals and nine assists, tying for the national lead. He totaled an NCAA-best 15 points in December. The sophomore scored in each game he played, extending his scoring streak to 12 games. In this span, he has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points. Entering 2023, Swankler leads the conference and ranks fourth in the country in goals (14) and points (28). His is the first CCHA player to earn HCA Player of the Month honors this season.
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HCA Player of the Month: Austen Swankler, Sophomore, Bowling Green
Austen Swankler recorded six goals and nine assists for 15 points in the month of December, recording at least one point in every game he played. He started the month by recording five assists in the Lake Superior State series, including a career-best three in the Saturday win that secured a sweep. He lit the lamp for the Falcons once in each game of the Minnesota State series, then had two goals and an assist in his only game against Ohio State. He closed the month with a five-point weekend against RPI, which included the game-winning goal in the series finale.
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The forward has scored in 12 consecutive games, recording nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in this stretch. He currently has 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points, leading the CCHA in goals and points and tying for second in the conference in assists. Three of his goals have been game-winners, tying for second in the conference and fifth in the nation. He ranks fourth in the NCAA in goals and points. In his career, Swankler has 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points in 57 games.
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Swankler joins Max Johnson as the only players in program history to earn HCA Player of the Month. Johnson was recognized in October 2018. This is the 10th time the Falcons have had a player recognized with a weekly or monthly award this season, matching the total from the entire 2021-22 campaign.
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Ty's Take
"Congratulations to Austen on being named Player of the Month in the CCHA and by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Those are great honors for him."
Up Next
The Falcons open 2023 with a home conference series against Lake Superior State. Bowling Green hosts the Lakers on Jan. 6-7, with both games starting at 7:07 p.m. ET in Slater Family Ice Arena. Friday's game will be a Dollar Night, tickets are available for $1 HERE. Parking and select concessions items will also be available for $1. Parking can be purchased HERE. Tickets for the Saturday tilt can be purchased HERE and parking for that game can be purchased HERE.
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HCA Player of the Month: Austen Swankler, Sophomore, Bowling Green
Austen Swankler recorded six goals and nine assists for 15 points in the month of December, recording at least one point in every game he played. He started the month by recording five assists in the Lake Superior State series, including a career-best three in the Saturday win that secured a sweep. He lit the lamp for the Falcons once in each game of the Minnesota State series, then had two goals and an assist in his only game against Ohio State. He closed the month with a five-point weekend against RPI, which included the game-winning goal in the series finale.
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The forward has scored in 12 consecutive games, recording nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in this stretch. He currently has 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points, leading the CCHA in goals and points and tying for second in the conference in assists. Three of his goals have been game-winners, tying for second in the conference and fifth in the nation. He ranks fourth in the NCAA in goals and points. In his career, Swankler has 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points in 57 games.
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Swankler joins Max Johnson as the only players in program history to earn HCA Player of the Month. Johnson was recognized in October 2018. This is the 10th time the Falcons have had a player recognized with a weekly or monthly award this season, matching the total from the entire 2021-22 campaign.
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Ty's Take
"Congratulations to Austen on being named Player of the Month in the CCHA and by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Those are great honors for him."
Up Next
The Falcons open 2023 with a home conference series against Lake Superior State. Bowling Green hosts the Lakers on Jan. 6-7, with both games starting at 7:07 p.m. ET in Slater Family Ice Arena. Friday's game will be a Dollar Night, tickets are available for $1 HERE. Parking and select concessions items will also be available for $1. Parking can be purchased HERE. Tickets for the Saturday tilt can be purchased HERE and parking for that game can be purchased HERE.
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Players Mentioned
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