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Wildcats’ Shine named WCHA top December player

MARQUETTE – Northern Michigan University junior forward Dominik Shine has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Month for December, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.

Shine led the league alone in three major offensive categories during the month: goals with six, points (8) and shots (28).

He also tied Lake Superior State’s Gage Torrel – the WCHA Rookie of the Month for December – for the league lead with two game-winning goals.

A downstate Pinckney native, Shine also sparkled nationally. His 28 shots was tops among all NCAA Division I skaters, and he finished tied for second in both goals and game-winning goals and tied for eighth in points.

The Wildcats’ alternate captain opened the month by taking home his first WCHA weekly award after posting his first hat trick against Alabama-Huntsville on Dec. 4.

With 17 seconds left, he capped the hat trick with a shorthanded goal on a penalty shot, lifting the Wildcats to a 4-3 victory and snapping a four-game winless streak.

In Northern’s series against Ferris State, Shine recorded three points, including a goal, tied for most on the team with Darren Nowick. Shine netted the deciding goal in a 3-2 win on Dec. 12, the Wildcats’ first victory in overtime this season.

The break failed to slow Shine down. In NMU’s first Great Lakes Invitational appearance since 1998, he notched a goal against Michigan in the semifinals on Dec. 29 and vs. Michigan State in the consolation game last Wednesday.

For his efforts, he became only the third Wildcat to earn GLIA all-tournament team honors, joining Dan Ruoho in 1992 and Roger Trudeau in 1998.

On the strength of his eight-point December, Shine vaulted to second on the team in points with 12. With seven goals, he’s tied with Nowick and Robbie Payne for the team lead.

Shine will ride a four-game point and three-game goal streak into NMU’s series at Minnesota State this weekend.

This is the first season the WCHA has named a Player and a Rookie of the Month. In October, NMU freshman goaltender Atte Tolvanen captured the first Rookie of the Month award.

Information compiled by Senior Sports Writer Craig Remsburg. He can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251, or via email at cremsburg@miningjournal.net.

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