Niagara University forward Joe Tallari earned CHA Offensive Player of the Week honors this week, while Bemidji State University goaltender Grady Hunt garnered CHA Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Wayne State University freshman Steve Kovalchik was named CHA Rookie of the Week, marking his first CHA honor. Tallari earned CHA honors for the second time in his career, while Hunt is an eight-time CHA award winner.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tallari, a 5-11, 180-pound senior from Thunder Bay, Ontario, helped the Purple Eagles to a weekend split at No. 13 Michigan State last week. Tallari played a hand in both Purple Eagle goals in the 2-1 win Friday as he scored Niagara’s first goal of the game and assisted on the game winner. Saturday, he knotted the game at 4-4 and forced overtime with a goal at 19:13 of the third period.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hunt, a 5-9, 165-pound junior from Vernon, British Columbia, returned from a five-game absence to start both games at Findlay last week. He stopped 64-of-67 shots faced for the week, while helping the Beavers to a win and a tie vs. the Oilers. He had 29 saves in Friday’s win and stopped another 39 in Saturday’s tie. Hunt ranks second nationally with a .960 save percentage.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kovalchik, a 5-10, 180-pound freshman defenseman from Riverview, Mich., had three assists and was a +1 in the Warriors’ split at No. 12 Ferris State last week. He assisted on Wayne State’s only goal Friday, and added helpers on the Warriors’ first and game-winning goals Saturday.

Honorable Mention Performance
Wayne State University senior forward Maxim Starchenko tallied a goal and an asist in the split at Ferris State last week. Niagara University sophomore forward Barrett Ehgoetz scored a goal and two assists in a split at Michigan State. University of Findlay junior forward Nick Udovicic scored two of the three Oiler goals last week vs. Bemidji State.

• 2002-03 CHA Players of the Week