Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month

Brett Gensler - Bentley

Sophomore, Forward, St Charles, Mo.

Gensler finished the month of January leading Atlantic Hockey in assists (20) and points (30) after recording a 7-9-16 line in 10 games this month and had a point in all but one game. His efforts helped the Falcons go 3-3-3 in conference play and put them in contention for a first round bye in the postseason. His high for the month was a four-point effort against Holy Cross on Jan. 24 where he recorded a hat trick, scoring two goals in the third period to help Bentley rally for a tie. Three days later at Army he had three assists in a 6-2 win and was named the conference’s Player of the Week on Jan. 30. Gensler also had two assists in a win over Robert Morris Jan. 6 and had a goal and two assists in a series at Air Force Jan. 13 & 14 where Bentley took three points. 

OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED:  Cole Schneider, Connecticut; Daniel Bahntge, Mercyhurst; Chris Haltigin, RIT; Cody Crichton, Robert Morris.

Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Month

Chris Noonan - Niagara

Senior, Goaltender, Portage, Mich.

Noonan had a great month for the Purple Eagles, leading the team to a 6-2-0 record during the month of January…Noonan played in every game, starting seven of them…Noonan recorded his first shutout of the season (2nd of his career), his first on home ice in a 3-0 win over Army on Jan. 14, 2012…Noonan earned a 1.18 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage after stopping 209 of 218 shots in the month…Noonan’s stellar play has launched Niagara on a six-game winning streak heading into the month of February…As of post-game on Saturday Jan. 28, Niagara has allowed 38 goals in AHA play, which is the second fewest amount in the conference…Noonan ended the month 2nd in the nation in goals-against average (1.69), first in the nation in save percentage (.942) and 10th in the nation in save percentage (.679)…Because of Noonan’s stellar play, Niagara ended the month 13th nationally in team defense, giving up on average 2.42 goals per game…Noonan has allowed five goals in his last six games.

OTHER GOALIES NOMINATED:  Garrett Bartus, Connecticut; Shane Madolora, RIT; Brooks Ostergard, Robert Morris.

Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month

Alex Grieve - Bentley

Freshman, Forward, Calgary, Alberta

After finishing the first half of the season with just three goals, Grieve heated up in January with a 7-6-13 line, which was second on the team in each category. He’s now at 10-9-19 for the season, which ties him for the team lead in goals and is second in points. He scored the game-winning goal with 9.7 seconds left against Robert Morris Jan. 6, breaking a 1-1 tie. He scored once in each game at Air Force Jan. 13 & 14 as Bentley took three points. In the final week of the month he scored three goals and handed out four assists, including a goal and two assists against Holy Cross Jan. 24 and two goals and one assist at Army Jan. 27. Those performances earned Grieve Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week honors.

OTHER ROOKIES NOMINATED: Nardo Nagtzaam, Mercyhurst; Chris Lochner, Niagara; Brad McGowan, RIT; Cody Wydo, Robert Morris.