Phoenix native and Miami University freshman forward Phil Knies has been named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for Jan. 2018.

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Knies doubled his season point total and tripled his goal total in the month of January, recording eight points in six games, which tied for the NCHC lead among rookies and tied for fifth nationally among freshmen. His six goals in the month led all NCHC players and all rookies nationally, as did his 1.00 goals per game. His 1.33 points per game led all NCAA freshmen in January, as well.

Knies started his month handing out an assist in Miami’s win over Denver Jan. 5. The next weekend, he was named NCHC Rookie of the Week after a four-goal, five-point showing at Omaha. He tallied a career-high three points in a record-setting 18-goal contest Jan. 12 against the Mavericks, including his first career multi-goal game. The next night, Knies did it again, scoring two more goals, including one on the power play, in a narrow loss as he earned Third Star of the Game.

Knies closed out January with a goal in each game at Colorado College Jan. 26-27, tallying again on the power play in last Saturday’s tie to stretch his goal-scoring streak to four games. He put 12 shots on goal during the month for a .500 shooting percentage, while he finished January with a plus-2 rating and also blocked six shots.

On the season, Knies now has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 24 games, with the 16 points tying for third among NCHC rookies.

Knies, an Arizona Bobcats alum, is now a candidate for Hockey Commissioners’ Association National Rookie of the Month for January, which will be announced on Friday.

Photo/Miami Athletics

(Jan. 31, 2018)