University of North Dakota Athletics announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, that sophomore forward Will Zellers has been named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Forward of the Week, the first time he has received the league’s top forward award, according to the announcement.
The announcement said Zellers, a Maple Grove, Minnesota, native, recorded two goals and four assists for six points as North Dakota swept Bemidji State in a two-game series. He had a career-high three assists in Friday’s 3-2 road win, then scored two power-play goals and added an assist in Saturday’s 4-3 home victory, according to UND Athletics. He contributed to six of the team’s seven goals over the weekend, the announcement said.
Zellers is the first UND player to begin a season with six points since Brock Boeser recorded six in games against Canisius on Oct. 7-8, 2016, according to the announcement. It also said Zellers joins Zach Parise as the only UND players to record at least three points in back-to-back games to open a season; Parise did so on Oct. 11-12, 2002.
The announcement said Zellers leads the NCHC with 3.00 points per game, 2.00 assists per game and two power-play goals, and is tied for second in overall points with six.
No. 4 North Dakota is scheduled to host Bentley at Ralph Engelstad Arena this weekend, beginning Friday at 7:07 p.m. Central time, according to UND Athletics. The announcement described Bentley as a first-time opponent.
