Northern Michigan University goalie William Gramme, center, stretches out to block the net as UMass’ Jack Galanek, right, is about to take a shot during their college hockey game played in Amherst, Mass., on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Now that didn’t take long, did it?

Despite being swept at No. 15 University of Massachusetts over the weekend, Northern Michigan University junior goalie William Gramme was named the Goaltender of the Week in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

The league recognized that Gramme, playing in his first two games in a Wildcat uniform after transferring from the University of Wisconsin, made an NMU-record number of saves for a period, a game and a two-game series against the Minutemen.

He stopped 34 shots in his first period of play, finishing Saturday with 65 saves and accumulating 107 saves over the two games.

His first CCHA weekly honor came after he posted a .947 saves percentage despite Northern losing 5-3 and 4-1. Three of the goals were empty-netters in the final minutes of play each night.

Amazingly, after stopping 34 of 35 shots in the opening period Saturday — a pace that would’ve produced a mind-boggling 105 shots on goal — Gramme had staked the Wildcats to a 2-1 lead.

He stopped 65 of the 69 shots in all that he saw on Saturday, and with another 42 of 44 stops on Sunday, finishing the weekend with 107 saves out of 113 shots on goal that he personally saw.

The NMU records he broke were 27 saves in one period, the second period, by Craig Kowalski against Michigan on Oct. 24, 2003, 57 saves in one game by John Corrigan against Boston College on Dec. 8, 1984, and 92 saves in a series by Jeff Poeschl vs. Wisconsin on Jan. 3-4, 1984.

In addition, in what is termed “modern” NCAA hockey dating back to 2004, Gramme had the second-most saves in a game, only exceeded by Jocelyn Guimond of RIT with 66 in a 3-2 win over St. Lawrence on Oct. 10, 2005.

It could go without saying, but why not say it — Gramme leads NCAA Division I with 107 saves. And his .947 saves percentage is the best among goalies who have faced at least 69 shots.

Other CCHA Players of the Week were senior Adam Flammang of Bemidji State as top forward, junior Chase Cheslock of St. Thomas as best defenseman and freshman Calem Mangone of Lake Superior State as No. 1 rookie.

The Wildcats might feel like they’re going from the frying pan and into the fire as they travel to No. 16 Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday.

The following weekend NMU plays its home opener at the Berry Events Center, hosting No. 21 Colorado College at 7:07 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, and 6:07 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the honor. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.