R.J. Umberger Named CCHA Rookie of the Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 5, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State men’s hockey freshman center R.J. Umberger (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Week honors for the week ending Feb. 4, the conference announced.
It is the first time Umberger has earned rookie of the week accolades and the sixth honor overall claimed by the Buckeyes this season. Freshman center Dave Steckel (West Bend, Wis.) is a two-time rookie of the week honoree, freshman goalie Mike Betz (Elizabeth, Pa.) has won rookie and defensive player of the week honors and senior forward Jean-Francois Dufour (Bedford, Quebec) earned CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors earlier this season.
In the Buckeyes’ two-game home sweep of Notre Dame (Feb. 2-3), Umberger posted five total points, including a team season-high four points in the second game. The first night, Umberger tallied a goal and posted six shots on net.
In the second game, Umberger got the Buckeyes on the board with a goal in the first period. He then assisted on Ohio State’s next three goals, including two power-play tallies. It was the second three-assist performance of Umberger’s career.
Umberger has put together a five-game scoring streak, posting 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the span. In the two games vs. Notre Dame, he helped the Buckeyes score five power-play goals on 14 opportunities (35.7 percent).
Umberger is tied for second on the squad in scoring with 28 points, on 12 goals and 16 assists. He is tied for 12th in league scoring in overall games and tied for eighth in scoring in conference games with 24 points. He is tied for second among league rookies in overall scoring and tied for the league lead among freshmen in scoring in CCHA games.
The Buckeyes, who are tied for fourth in the CCHA, next compete Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10, when they play a home-and-home series with third-place Miami. Faceoff is set for 7:35 p.m. Friday in Value City Arena in Columbus and at 7:35 p.m. Saturday at Goggin Ice Arena in Oxford, Ohio.
