It took only two weeks for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference to start taking notice of Gilbert Plains’ Riese Gaber.

Gaber, the MJHL grad who has made an early mark with the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks this season, was named NCHC Rookie of the Week as the conference announced its weekly award winners from the season-opening NCHC pod in Omaha, Neb. on Monday evening. It was only thye second week of the 2020-21 season.

Gaber, 21, grabbed NCHC Co-Rookie of the Week honors after scoring three goals, including a game-winner in Sunday’s victory over Western Michigan. He also added an assist and finished the week with four points in four games. Gaber leads the Fighting Hawks in goals this season with five in the first seven games of the season.

No. 4 North Dakota returns to the ice in Omaha on Wednesday against No. 9 St. Cloud State at 7:35 p.m. CST.

NCHC Players of the Week- Dec. 14, 2020 

Forward–  Ethen Frank, Western Michigan

Defenseman- Matt Kierstad, UND

Rookie- Riese Gaber, UND and Carter Savoie, Denver

Goalie– Ludvig Persson, Miami

Scott Taylor

Covered his first junior hockey game for the Sarnia Observer in 1968. Covered his first Jets game for the Winnipeg Free Press in 1980. Still thinks hockey is the bees knees.