Andy Taranto Named HCA NCAA Division I Rookie of the Month

 

Photo courtesy AlaskaNanooks.com

For the second time this season, Nanook standout rookie Andy Taranto, has been named the HCA National Division I Rookie of the Month.

Full press release says it all:

Farmington Hills, Mich. -- [snip]Andy Taranto, a 6-foot, 213-pound forward for Alaska, has been named the HCA National Rookie of the Month for February. This is the second time he has earned the honor this season.

Taranto helped lead the Nanooks to an unbeaten February (6-0-2) with a 7-7-14 scoring line, including two hat tricks. He finished the season ranked first in the CCHA and third nationally in scoring among freshmen (16-23-39), which is also good for fourth overall in the conference. The Chicago native posted a +12 rating during Feburary with four multiple-point games. Taranto helped Alaska earn the right to host the fourth CCHA playoff series at Fairbanks in Nanooks history.
Taranto, who led the USHL in goals last season with 34 for the Fargo Force, was named CCHA Rookie of the Week on March 1 and Feb. 25 after registering five points each weekend to lead Alaska to a pair of series sweeps. He tallied a goal and four assists, including helpers on both game-winning goals, as the Nanooks took two from Lake Superior (Feb. 19-20). Taranto followed up that performance with a 3-1-4 line in a victory over Alaska-Anchorage, 7-4 (Feb. 26). His first hat trick lifted the Nanooks to a 4-1 win during a visit to Ohio State (Feb. 12).

Going into this season, a national player of the month selection was unprecedented. Taranto has since been selected twice this season. Unbelievable.