February 8, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame senior defenseman Benoit Cotnoir (Rouyn Noranda, Quebec) has been named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association defensive player of the week, after playing a major role in last week’s 2-2 tie versus No. 4 Michigan State and 5-2 win over Alaska Fairbanks.

Cotnoir had two timely goals and one assist during the weekend action while posting a +3 plus-minus ratio in the two games. He sparked the Irish comeback from an early 2-0 deficit vs. MSU by picking off a clear attempt and scoring a first-period power-play goal. Cotnoir then came back the next night against UAF to score the game-winning goal on a first-period shot from the right circle. His shot later in the game was put back in by junior right wing Joe Dusbabek for a 4-1 Irish lead.

Notre Dame has produced six CCHA weekly honorees this season, with senior goaltender Forrest Karr twice earning defensive player of the week. Senior right wing Brian Urick and junior center Ben Simon each have received offensive player of the week while freshman center Brett Henning recently was named CCHA rookie of the week.

Notre Dame’s five different CCHA weekly award winners are tied for most in the CCHA this season, with Michigan, MSU and Ohio State. Michigan leads with nine total CCHA awards (six of them for rookie of the week), followed by OSU (8), MSU (7), Notre Dame (6) and Bowling Green (5).

Cotnoir (5G-8A) and Simon (6G-7A) are Notre Dame’s top scorers during the team’s current 7-1-2 run, during which time Cotnoir and the rest of the Irish defense have allowed just 19 goals (1.9/gm) while stopping 44 of 50 opponent power plays (88.0 percent).

Cotnoir ranks fifth on team with 21 total points (6G-15A) and currently ranks as the second-highest scoring defenseman in the CCHA, three points behind Bowling Green junior Mike Jones (5G-19A). Cotnoir’s six goals are tied for second-most among CCHA defensemen, behind the eight scored by Michigan sophomore Mike Van Ryn.

Cotnoir has points in eight of the last nine games, including an active and career-best seven-game point streak. His 84 career points (27G-57A) rank ninth in Notre Dame history for points by a defenseman, just five behind former All American Bill Nyrop (17G-72A, 1970-74). Cotnoir has collected more than half of his career points (45 of 84) on the power play.