Commissioners' Association Announces January Honors
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Michigan State junior goalie Jeff Lerg, who backstopped the Spartans to a 5-0-3 record and posted a career-best shutout streak of 190:54, is a unanimous choice as the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Player of the Month for January.
Lerg, a 21-year old native of Livonia, Mich., posted a 1.32 goals-against average and .959 save percentage while sweeping all four CCHA Goaltender of the Week awards in January. He's led the Spartans to the nation's current longest unbeaten streak (5-0-3) and an undefeated run of 12 games (9-0-3) in conference action. The 5-foot-6, 155-pound product of the Omaha Lancers (USHL), who has lowered his GAA by half a goal in the past eight games, leads the nation in minutes played (1574:05) and ranks fifth among netminders in percentage of his team's minutes played.
Lerg boasts a 0.81 GAA and .971 Spct. in his team's last six contests, which includes two games each against No. 6 Notre Dame, Ohio State and No. 1 Michigan. Lerg allowed just 10 goals overall in January and only two goals in four road games while pitching shutouts at Ohio State on Jan. 19 and at Michigan on Jan. 25 for the first back-to-back shutouts of his career. His two shutouts in January give him eight for his career, which is fourth-best in team history.
Miami University freshman forward Carter Camper, who leads the CCHA in freshmen scoring and is second in nation among first-year players, has been named the Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Rookie of the Month for December.
Camper, named his league's top rookie in three out of four months this season, tallied six goals and six assists in eight games while earning a +7 rating and helping the RedHawks to a 7-1-0 record in January. The 5-foot-9, 173-pound forward has a 13-20-33 line in 27 games this season to rank first in total points among CCHA rookies and first in points-per-game average at 1.22.
Camper, a 19-year old from Rocky River, Ohio, who earned USHL Second Team honors with the Lincoln Stars last season, registered a point in all but one game during the month. He produced a 6-9-15 scoring line during a 10-game point streak that was halted in Alaska on January 25. But he rebounded strongly the following night by scoring twice and adding an assist for his fourth multi-point game of the month.
Camper is second in the nation in freshmen scoring behind only Garrett Roe of St. Cloud State.
National Player of the
Month
Jeff Lerg, G, Michigan State, CCHA
National Rookie of the Month
Carter Camper, F, Miami, CCHA
Honorable Mention Player of the
Month
Matt Climie, G, Bemidji State, CHA
Nathan Gerbe, F, Boston College, HEA
J.P. Lamoureaux, G, North Dakotoa, WCHA
Andrew Loewen, G, Canisius College, AHA
Steven Zalewski, F, Clarkson, ECAC
Honorable Mention Rookie of the
Month
Richard Bachman, G, Colorado College, WCHA
Mike Devoney, G, Wayne State, CHA
Mike Kramer, F, Princeton, ECAC
Erik Peterson, F, Bentley, AHA
James vanRiemsdyk, F, New Hampshire, HEA
