By @MichaelCaples –
The WCHA has introduced new monthly awards, and their first ‘rookie of the month’ selection is going to a Wildcat.
Atte Tolvanen, a freshman netminder from Vihti, Finland, has been standing on his head in Marquette for NMU, and the WCHA conference is recognizing his play by naming him the first-ever ‘WCHA Rookie of the Month’ for October.
Tolvanen faced the second-most shots in all of the NCAA (258) during the month, and he recorded the second-most saves in the timeframe (243). Among the 30 NCAA netminders who faced at least 150 shots over the month, Tolvanen ranks fifth in save percentage (.942) and sixth in goals-against average (1.99). Both of those numbers hold the top spot for all NCAA rookie netminders, and Tolvanen also checks in at No. 1 for all WCHA goalies.
Atte Tolvanen has taken home the first ever WCHA Rookie of the Month award! pic.twitter.com/F0MQqZrmat
— NMU Wildcats (@NMU_Wildcats) November 4, 2015