WINTHROP, Mass. - Following the Niagara hockey team's two-game weekend sweep at American International on Feb. 5 and 6, Purple Eagles freshman defenseman Niko Kovachis was named the Travel Team USA Defensive Player of the Week by Atlantic Hockey on Tuesday. Kovachis finished the weekend series with one goal, one assist, two blocked shots, and a plus-one rating.
 
"Niko scored the game-winning goal on Friday and was a big factor all weekend," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "He has played lots of minutes for us in all situations this season, and he continues to get better."
 
In a 2-0 shutout win over American International on Feb. 5, Kovachis provided the eventual game-winning goal that opened the scoring with 7:34 left in regulation. Niagara had two chances from Sean King and TJ Sarcona denied on an odd-man rush, but Kovachis joined the action and buried the rebound for his third goal of the season. On Feb. 6, Kovachis added his team-leading third power-play assist on Johnny Curran's goal with the man advantage. The freshman from Mississauga, Ont. is now riding a four-game point streak and has accumulated one goal and three assists in that time to go with a plus-2 rating.  
 
Kovachis has grown into a top contributor for Niagara on both the power play and penalty kill. Both special teams units have made great strides over the team's last 10 games, as the power play has converted 6-of-36 chances (16.7 percent) while the penalty kill has surrendered just five goals on 42 chances (88.1 percent).
 
The Defensive Player of the Week honor for Kovachis is the third weekly award for a Niagara freshman this season, following Rookie of the Week nods for Joe O'Brien (Nov. 10, 2015) and Nick Farmer (Nov. 24, 2015).
 
The Purple Eagles return to action on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday Feb. 13 for a home-and-home series with the Mercyhurst Lakers. Niagara hosts Mercyhurst at Dwyer Arena on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before the teams head to the Mercyhurst Ice Center Saturday evening. Tickets for Friday's game are available at the Dwyer Arena ticket office or by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499).

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