UND’s Costantini is NCHC Rookie of Week

For the fifth straight week, North Dakota took home weekly honors from the league as freshman forward Matteo Costantini was named the NCHC Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Costantini brings home his second weekly award of the season after helping the now-No. 4 Fighting Hawks to a weekend sweep over Western Michigan and push their winning streak to six straight games.

The St. Catharines, Ont., native tallied a goal and an assist in Friday’s 2-1 win, factoring in on both goals. In the first period, Costantini headmanned the puck up to Jake Schmaltz before he found Ashton Calder for the game’s first goal to give UND a 1-0 lead.

Later with the game tied at one, the rookie scored his seventh goal of the season to give UND the lead for good and his first game-winning goal of his career.

Over the last five games, Costantini has four points (2g, 2a), all coming in wins.

North Dakota guns for its third straight Penrose Cup this weekend at No. 20 Omaha at 7:07 p.m. from Baxter Arena. The Fighting Hawks claim the title with either one win or a loss from Denver against Colorado College.

(UND Athletics)