
Bloomington's BJ O'Brien Named Easton Player of the Week
December 11, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 11, 2013) - The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced goaltender BJ O'Brien of the Bloomington Thunder is the Easton Player of the Week for December 2-8.
O'Brien went 1-1-0, posting a 1.52 goals against average and .951 save percentage in helping the Thunder split a pair of road games against the third-place Mississippi RiverKings.
On Saturday, the Lakeville, MN native stopped 30 of 31 shots, including 14 in the second period, as Bloomington defeated Mississippi 2-1. O'Brien came back with another strong performance on Sunday, making 28 saves in a 2-0 loss to the RiverKings.
Before turning pro, O'Brien had a stellar career at St. Norbert College. After making 70 saves in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the 2010 championship game, O'Brien led the Green Knights to the 2011 NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Championship, defeating Adrian College 4-3 and earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the second consecutive year. In his senior season at St. Norbert, O'Brien went 22-2-1 with a 1.64 goals against average and .931 save percentage and earned All-American, All-Conference, All-USCHO and USCHO Division III Player of the Year honors.
Also Nominated: Kyle Rank, Fayetteville (1-0-0, 1.00 gaa, .954 save%), Stuart Stefan, Huntsville (2 gp, 3g, 1 ppg), Francis Drolet, Knoxville (1 gp, 1g, 1a), Kiefer Smiley, Louisiana (2-1-0, 2.32 gaa, .927 save%), Todd Hosmer, Mississippi RiverKings (3 gp, 2g, 2a), Jordan Peddle, Mississippi Surge (2 gp, 2g, 1 ppg), Paul Rodrigues, Pensacola (3 gp, 2g, 2a, 1 gwg) and Charlie Carkin, Peoria (2 gp, 1g, 1a, +2)
SPHL Stories from December 11, 2013
- Thunder Goalie O'Brien Receives Weekly SPHL Honor - Bloomington Thunder
- Blackhawks Announce Partnership with Thunder and Rivermen - Bloomington Thunder
- Bloomington's BJ O'Brien Named Easton Player of the Week - SPHL
- Illinois Pro Sports and Chicago Blackhawks Announce Partnership - Peoria Rivermen
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