GRAND FORKS — UND freshman Jackson Blake started the month playing for the U.S. World Junior Team.
He ended it tied for the most points of any player in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in January.
Blake was named NCHC rookie of the month for January on Wednesday after tallying three goals and nine points in eight games. He tied linemate Riese Gaber for the NCHC lead in points during the month.
"It's pretty cool," Blake said. "It's a cool honor, but I think we're just really focused on winning these games and hopefully getting a sweep in Denver in two weeks."
The busy month started in Halifax, N.S., where Blake won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship on Jan. 5.
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He flew back to Grand Forks the next day, getting to Ralph Engelstad Arena less than two hours before puck drop against Lindenwood. Blake tallied an assist that night in a UND victory. It was his eighth game in 12 days.
The freshman winger had a two-assist night against Western Michigan, a goal and an assist in a win over Minnesota Duluth and a four-point weekend — two goals, two assists — at Miami.
Blake is now the leading scorer for the Fighting Hawks with 30 points.
The only UND rookies to reach the 30-point mark in the last decade are Tyson Jost (2016-17) and Brock Boeser (2015-16).
"I've learned that if you work as hard as you can in the D-zone, you'll get more offensive opportunity," Blake said. "That's really what I've learned the last couple of months and the whole entire year."
UND has this weekend off before playing a two-game series at Denver on Feb. 10-11.
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