Former Steinbach Pistons goaltender, Matthew Thiessen was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Goaltender of the Week.
Thiessen had his best weekend as a Bulldog last weekend, backstopping UMD to a split with Colorado College. On Friday, he made 28 saves, including 12 in the third period, and allowed only two goals in a tough-luck, 3-0 loss. The next night, Thiessen turned aside all 24 shots he faced, with 10 coming in the final frame, to record his first collegiate shutout in a 4-0 victory.
Thiessen finished the weekend with an NCHC-best .963 save percentage, stopping 52 of the 54 shots he faced. The Vancouver Canucks draft pick also posted a 1.01 goals-against average against CC, lowering his season GAA to 2.00. Thiessen is now 5-4-0 in nine starts this year and upped his season save percentage to .925.
During the 2017-18 season, Thiessen backstopped the Pistons to a Turnbull Trophy as MJHL Champions before he helped defeat the Nipiwin Hawks to capture the ANAVET Cup. After three years at the University of Maine, Thiessen is now a member of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
Photo Credit: Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
