FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NMU’S SHINE AND LSSU’S TORREL
NAMED WCHA PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY 2016
EDINA, Minn. – March 1, 2016 – The penultimate month of the 2015-16 regular season featured frenzied
jockeying for playoff and home-ice positioning, and a pair of Upper Peninsula standouts who played key
roles for their teams are recognized today in the men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
monthly honors for February 2016. Northern Michigan junior forward Dominik Shine was named the
league’s Player of the Month, while Lake Superior State freshman forward Gage Torrel garnered Rookie
of the Month accolades. Both players also earned these same honors in December 2015, becoming the
first repeat winners of the nascent award.
WCHA Player of the Month – February 2016
Dominik Shine, Jr., F, Northern Michigan (Pickney, Mich.)
Northern Michigan used a 5-2-1 month to jump into home ice position entering the final weekend of the
WCHA’s regular season, and Shine’s league-best 11 points was a big reason why. The junior from
Pickney, Mich. registered at least one point in all eight February contests and will enter March on a ninegame point streak. He tied for ninth nationally for points, tied for 13th with a WCHA-best 1.38 goals-pergame and tied for 11th with a WCHA-high seven assists. While the Wildcats enjoyed their best month of
the season, Shine factored in three game-winning goals (scoring the game-winning marker Feb. 19
against Alabama Huntsville and assisting on scores Feb. 13 at Ferris State and Feb. 20 against UAH). He
also had a three-point effort (2g-1a) in a 5-4 win Feb. 6 at Alaska Anchorage. Shine is tied for third in the
WCHA for overall scoring with 29 points (14g-15a), while tying for second in the conference scoring race
with 25 points (12g-13a).
Also nominated:
• Mark Cooper, Sr., F, Bowling Green (helped the Falcons go 4-3-0, clinch home ice and remain in
the MacNaughton Cup chase by tallying four goals and three assists);
• Gordon Defiel, So., G, Lake Superior State (led WCHA goaltenders with a .939 save percentage
and ranked second with a 1.65 goals-against average, finishing the month on a 3-1-1 run to push
LSSU into the league playoffs);
• Bryce Gervais, Sr., F, Minnesota State (lifted the Mavericks to the cusp of a regular season title
with a WCHA-high-tying six goals, along with two assists during MSU’s 3-1-2 month);
• Gerald Mayhew, Jr. F, Ferris State (scored a team-leading three goals, along with four assists, to
keep the Bulldogs in the home ice chase);
• Max Vallis, Sr., F, Michigan Tech (after entering the month with only six career goals to his
name, tied for the WCHA lead with six markers, helping Tech go 5-1-0 to remain in the thick of
the title chase).
WCHA Rookie of the Month – February 2016
Gage Torrel, Fr., F, Lake Superior State (Monticello, Minn.)
Torrel, part of Lake Superior State’s talented rookie corps, led all WCHA freshmen (and tied for 15th
nationally) with seven points as the Lakers clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1-0 run to end February. The
freshman from Monticello, Minn. also tied for the league rookie lead with four goals, while pacing
freshmen with a 0.88 points-per-game mark and three power-play points (1g-2a). Torrel tied for fifth in
the WCHA overall for scoring and third in goals, while he notched a pair of assists on game-winning goals
(Feb. 13 vs. Bemidji State and Feb. 26 vs. Northern Michigan). He also keyed a LSSU penalty-kill unit that
led the WCHA with a 92.9 percentage in February, while playing on a power-play group that was fifth
with a 15.4 mark. Torrel wrapped up the month by helping Lake Superior State earn the Cappo Cup with
a three-point weekend against NMU, including factoring in both goals during Saturday’s Cup-clinching,
2-2 tie.
Also nominated:
• Stephen Baylis, Fr., F, Bowling Green (scored all of his six points – two goals and four assists – in
BGSU’s four wins, including victories over Minnesota State, Alaska and Ferris State);
• Corey Mackin, Fr., F, Ferris State (led WCHA freshmen with five assists and a +5 rating, including
three helpers in a key 5-1 win over Northern Michigan).
About Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, among the most historic, tradition-rich and successful
conferences in all of collegiate athletics, proudly marks its 64th season of men’s competition in 2015-16.
The 10-team Division 1 conference consists of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Chargers), the
University of Alaska Anchorage (Seawolves), the University of Alaska (Nanooks), Bemidji State University
(Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons), Ferris State University (Bulldogs), Lake Superior
State University (Lakers), Michigan Technological University (Huskies), Minnesota State University
(Mavericks) and Northern Michigan University (Wildcats). For more information, visit wcha.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Matt Hodson
Associate Commissioner for Public Relations
E: [email protected]
O: 952.818.8872
M: 612.801.2808
MORE INFORMATION
Website: wcha.com
Twitter: @wcha_mhockey
Instagram: @wcha_mhockey
Facebook: facebook.com/wchahockey
WCHA.tv: portal.stretchinternet.com/wcha
– WCHA –