Puck Winter Named National Defensive Player of the Week

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 15 Rutgers discipline hockey star Puck Winter earned a nationwide accolade on Wednesday because the NFHCA named her the National Defensive Player of the Week. Winter, who was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for the second time, was acknowledged because the National Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in her profession (beforehand in 2023).

Winter buoyed a Rutgers defensive effort that held opponents to 1 aim in 127 minutes of motion over the weekend. In RU’s 2-1 time beyond regulation win over Ohio State within the convention opener, she made two essential defensive saves within the last minutes of regulation to ship the sport to time beyond regulation, the place RU prevailed. Then in a shutout victory over Columbia on Sunday, Winter had 5 factors with two targets and an help, notching her first multi-goal recreation since 2023.

The graduate scholar from The Netherlands at present shares the NCAA lead this season with 4 defensive saves after beforehand main the NCAA within the statistic every of the previous two seasons. For her profession, she has 29 defensive saves, which is Rutgers’ program report, second in Big Ten historical past and seventh in NCAA historical past.

Winter and the Scarlet Knights maintain a 6-4 general report and are 1-0 in league play after the win over the Buckeyes. The staff hits the street this weekend for a pair of video games within the state of Michigan. On Friday, RU performs at Michigan State (3 pm, B1G+). Then on Sunday, the Scarlet Knights play a nationally televised recreation at No. 12 Michigan, a midday begin on Big Ten Network.