Laker defenseman and rookie goaltender earn CCHA Player of the Week

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - The Central Collegiate Hockey Association granted player of the week honors to senior defenseman Matt Cowie and freshman goaltender Kevin Kapalka. Cowie and Kapalka were LSSU's outstanding players during the weekend sweep at Northern Michigan.

Cowie, a 5-9 187, native of Nepean, Ont. received his first Defensive Player of the Week award for the week of Jan. 31. Cowie was 0-4--4 against Northern Michigan. All four of his assists were on power-play goals. He totaled three blocked shots. He is tied for second on the team in defensive points and fifth overall with 4-10—14. Cowie is on a five-game point streak, totaling seven assists in the last five games. 

Kapalka, a 6-1 197, Mississauga, Ont. native, received his third Rookie of the Week award for the season. He is 8-7-6-4 overall this season. He completed the road sweep at NMU with a 2-0 shutout, his third of the season. The sweep was his first collegiate road sweep. He stopped 49 shots for the series, allowing one goal.

Kapalka is third in the CCHA in save percentage (.931), fifth in goals-against average (1.97), and seventh in winning percentage (.556) against league opponents. He is ranked 16th nationally in overall save percentage (.922) and 18th in goals-against average (2.22).