Keeney named CCHA rookie of the month

February 1, 2013

University Relations

Jamie Foland

907-474-6807

Fairbanks, Alaska - The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) announced today that goaltender John Keeney of the Alaska Nanooks has been named the Gongshow Rookie of the Month for January.

Keeney started and earned wins in all six games for the Nanooks in January, with his six wins topping all goaltenders in the nation. He backstopped Alaska to their most historic January in program history as the Nanooks collected three weekend sweeps, including their first sweep of Michigan, while recording a 2.17 goals-against average and stopping 140 shots for a .915 save percentage.

The 6-foot-1, 184 pound netminder opened the month by making 19 saves in a 5-4 win at Michigan on Jan. 4 and then turned aside 30 shots the following night in a 4-1 victory. From there, the Nanooks traveled to Notre Dame where Keeney stopped a total of 43 shots in a pair of wins, 5-4 and 2-1, over the Irish. Alaska closed out the month at home against Northern Michigan, where the Twin Peaks, Calif., native made 24 saves in a 2-1 win on Friday night and blocked another 24 shots on Saturday in a 4-2 victory.

Special mention for the Gongshow Rookie of the Month honors goes to Lake Superior defenseman Eric Drapluk, Miami defenseman Matthew Caito and Western Michigan forward Colton Hargrove.