GUPTIL NAMED CCHA PLAYER OF WEEK
Former Brampton Capital and Orangeville Crusher Alex Guptil (photo courtesy of U-M Photography), now with the University of Michigan Wolverines, was named the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance this past weekend.
The Newmarket, Ontario native joined the OJHL with the Brampton Capitals in 2008-09 and make an immediate impact as a 16-year old rookie, leading the club in scoring with 30 goals and 64 points in 49 games played. A top-end talent, Guptil would be selected to play in the Junior All-Star Game for the MacKinnon-Phillips All-Star Team, a 4-0 loss, and would be named the MacKinnon Division Rookie-of-the-Year. The following season, after getting off to another hot start with 11 points in 10 games played, Guptil was traded closer to home, joining the Orangeville Crushers. The list of accomplishments continued to grow as well with the forward being named to Team Canada East for the 2009 World Junior 'A' Challenge that was held in Summerside, PEI, as well as to the CCHL Prospects Team, recording a goal, that lost 6-3 to the CJHL Prospects at the Battle of Ontario in Pembroke. Guptil would notch 13 goals and 26 points in 19 games with the Crushers and following the season, he was named to the OHA All-Prospect Team and would be selected by the Dallas Stars in the 3rd round, 77th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, before ultimately joining the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Below is the official press release from the University of Michigan Athletics website (www.mgoblue.com):
Sophomore forward Alex Guptill (Newmarket, Ontario) of the University of Michigan ice hockey team was named the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday (Feb. 25).
Guptill registered a four-point weekend with three goals in the Wolverines' weekend sweep (Fri-Sat., Feb. 22-23) of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The sweep marked U-M's first back-to-back road victories of the 2012-13 campaign.
On Saturday night, Guptill scored the game-winner at 5:25 in the third period to record his 11th goal of the season. He also added an assist in the 6-3 win. Guptill tallied two goals during Friday's 5-3 victory, including a power-play marker. He was also named the Perani Cup second star.
The Wolverines play Ferris State next Friday and Saturday at Yost Ice Arena to end the regular season. Both games start at 7:35 p.m. The CCHA playoffs will begin the following week.
