WAKEFIELD, Mass. - After netting his first career hat trick, University of Maine men's ice hockey junior Brendan Robbins has been named the Hockey East Co-Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. Robbins shares the honor with UConn's Cory Ronan.

Robbins' three-goal outing helped the Black Bears top the Merrimack Warriors, 4-3, on Friday night at Alfond Arena. The Nashua, N.H. native tallied an even-strength goal in the first period, tapping home a pass from Emil Westerlund at the right post. In the middle frame, Robbins earned a penalty shot after being hooked on a short-handed breakaway and on the ensuing penalty shot, he was able to put a move on the Merrimack goaltender with a backhanded shot over the blocker. Later in the period, Robbins completed the hat trick with his second short-handed goal of the season when he took a pass from Chase Pearson, carried it along the right wing and then snuck a wrister short-side.

It was one of four hat tricks in NCAA Division I men's hockey on the weekend, and the lone one in Hockey East. This is the first career weekly honor for Robbins, who also contributed seven shots on goal for the Black Bears in the two game series against Merrimack. He now has 17 points on seven assists and a team-high and career-best 10 goals.

Prior to the game, Maine's last hat trick (Nolan Vesey) and last penalty shot goal (Blaine Byron '17) came on Feb. 25, 2017 in a 5-4 win over Northeastern.

The Black Bears will travel to Providence to close out the regular season series with the Friars with a game at 7:15 p.m. on Friday night.

-UMaine-