After posting eight points in eight games, Colorado College freshman Mats Lindgren has been named the NCHC Defenseman of the Month for January.
 
Lindgren joined the Tigers in late December over the winter break and has made an immediate impact, racking up eight points in his first eight collegiate games from the blue line. His four goals and eight points in January both tied for the NCHC lead among defensemen, while his four goals also tied for second nationally among blueliners in the month. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick averaged a point per game in his first month of college hockey, while averaging 0.50 goals per game, which was second among NCAA defensemen.
 
Lindgren recorded points in five of eight games in January, including a pair of multi-point and multi-goal games. He tallied his first collegiate point with an assist at Augustana on Jan. 3. In his first home game, he assisted on the overtime game-winner against then-No. 4 North Dakota on Jan. 9 in a 3-2 victory. The next night, he scored two goals in a 5-2 loss to the Fighting Hawks, which were the first two goals of his CC career and helped earn him Rookie of the Week honors. After an assist in a win at Omaha on Jan. 24, Lindgren tallied a career-high three points in an overtime loss to Arizona State on Jan. 30, including scoring two more goals. That earned him NCHC Defenseman of the Week accolades to close the month.
 
Lindgren put 23 shots on goal in January, while compiling a +4 plus/minus during the month. He also blocked five shots to go with his four goals and four assists.
 
He is now eligible for Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) national January monthly awards, which will be announced tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 5.

Colorado College resumes the Battle for the Gold Pan rivalry this weekend with a home-and-home series with 8^th-ranked Denver. Friday's game will be played at Ed Robson Arena, while Saturday's contest is at Magness Arena. Both games with begin at 7 p.m.