Vallis and Phillips Named WCHA Players of the Week

HOUGHTON, Mich. —Max Vallis (Santa Clara, Calif.) and Jamie Phillips (Caledonia, Ont.) of the Michigan Tech hockey team have been named WCHA Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for their performances in the Huskies' Winter Carnival sweep of Lake Superior State.

Vallis tied for the NCAA lead with three goals and led all Division I players with two game-winning markers, leading No. 14 Michigan Tech to a sweep of Lake Superior State and its 45th Winter Carnival championship. The senior from Santa Clara, Calif. scored the Huskies' first two goals in a nationally-televised, 3-0 win Friday night, and then added the second-period game-winner in a 3-1 triumph Saturday. For his efforts in helping Tech capture the MacInnes Cup, Vallis was named Winter Carnival Most Valuable Player. This is Vallis' first career WCHA weekly award.

Phillips backstopped No. 14 Michigan Tech to a pair of wins and the Winter Carnival title with an exceptional effort, stopping 53-of-54 shots for an NCAA-best .981 save percentage. In fact, the senior came within a Lake Superior State penalty shot with 55 seconds remaining Saturday of posting back-to-back shutouts. Phillips turned aside 31 shots Friday, before making 22 saves in a 3-1 win Saturday. Phillips, who has now claimed WCHA weekly awards four times in 2015-16, improved his school record total of career shutouts to nine over the weekend.

Tech has this weekend off before traveling to face Bemidji State on Feb. 19-20. The Huskies next home games are Feb. 26-27 vs. Alaska. 

Below is a look at Michigan Tech's WCHA weekly award winners for 2015-16.

Nov. 16 — Jamie Phillips, Defense
Nov. 23 — Tyler Heinonen, Offense
Dec. 14 — Alex Petan, Offense
Jan. 4 — Brent Baltus, Offense
Jan. 11 — Jamie Phillips, Defense
Jan. 18 — Alex Petan, Offense
Jan. 18 — Jamie Phillips, Defense
Feb. 8 — Max Vallis, Offense
Feb. 8 — Jamie Phillips, Defense