University of Connecticut Athletics
Natalie Vibert Named Hockey East Player of the Week
11/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. (November 13, 2006) - University of Connecticut women’s hockey senior defenseman Natalie Vibert (Thunder Bay, Ont.) has been named the Hockey East Association’s Player of the Week. She is the second Husky of this young season to earn this honor as junior forward Jaclyn Hawkins (Manotick, Ont.) won the award on Oct. 23.
The captain notched a pair of goals this weekend, one in each of UConn’s victories as the Huskies defeated both Boston University and Northeastern to remain undefeated in Hockey East play at 6-0-0 and improve to 9-3-0 overall. Both marks are by far the best starts in school history. UConn is the last remaining undefeated team in league play and one reason for that is Vibert’s steady play at both ends of the ice. On Saturday, Nov. 11, she netted UConn’s first goal of the game, the game-winner, as the Huskies shutout BU, 2-0, at Walter Brown Arena. A day later, she also scored the team’s first goal as UConn rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the final eight minutes of play to nip Northeastern, 3-2 in overtime. After kick-starting the UConn surge with her slap shot goal from the point, Vibert was on the ice moments later for UConn’s game-tying goal, earning her a +2 rating for the day. In part due to her defensive work, UConn did not allow a non-power play goal all weekend. In fact, UConn has not surrendered an even strength goal in Hockey East play since its Oct. 21 game against Maine, a span covering 222 minutes and 50 seconds of game action over parts of four contests.
With 13 points on the year (four goals and nine assists), Vibert is tied for being the second-highest scoring defenseman in the country. Only Martine Garland of New Hampshire has more with 15 points (four goals and 11 assists). She is tied for fourth in Hockey East in scoring amongst all players, six points behind Hawkins who tops the conference with her 19 points (10 goals and nine assists). Vibert’s goal at BU was the milestone 50th point of her career. She is the first Husky blueliner, and the fifth skater overall, to ever reach that plateau.
The Huskies will face one of their sternest challenges of the year to date as No. 10 Boston College (8-1-1, 4-1-0 HE) comes to Storrs on Saturday, Nov. 18, for a 1:00 p.m. game. On Sunday, Nov. 19, UConn will play host to the other Hockey East entrant from Commonwealth Avenue as BU ventures to the Freitas Ice Forum for another 1:00 p.m. face off.
