GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota junior defenseman Tucker Poolman has been named National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Defenseman of the Week for his dominant performance in UND's series sweep at Miami last weekend to close out the regular season.

Poolman led all NCHC defensemen on the weekend with five points and was a plus-5 in leading the Fighting Hawks to 3-2 and 5-2 victories. He also keyed a defensive effort that limited Miami to just 27 shots on goal in the series, including a season-low 11 on Saturday.

Poolman, a native of East Grand Forks, Minn., had career-high four points on Saturday, three of them coming in the third period. Poolman scored twice and added two assists and matched his career high with a plus-4 rating. One night earlier, Poolman set up Tyson Jost's game-tying goal late in the second period and was a plus-1.

Poolman's two goals gave him 20 for his career and made him UND's first defenseman since Chay Genoway (2006-11) to reach that plateau.

It was the second NCHC Defenseman of the Week honor this season for Poolman, who was also recognized on Nov. 21. In 34 games this season, Poolman has seven goals and a team-leading 21 assists. He is tied for the team lead with a plus-16 rating.

Poolman and the Fighting Hawks host St. Cloud State March 10-12 in the NCHC Quarterfinals.

UND's 2016-17 NCHC Players of the Week
Oct. 10: Brock Boeser (Offensive)
Oct. 24: Brock Boeser (Offensive)
Nov. 21: Cam Johnson (Goaltender), Tucker Poolman (Defenseman)
Dec. 5: Tyson Jost (Rookie)
Jan. 9: Christian Wolanin (Defenseman)
Mar. 6: Tucker Poolman (Defenseman)