Syracuse graduate student Victoria is the College Hockey America Forward of the Week for the second time in three weeks. The Orangeville, Ontario native had three points, including one goal and two assists, in Syracuse’s 3-1 win against Mercyhurst that propelled the Orange into sole possession of first place in the conference.
Klimek had a hand in all three Syracuse’s goals. She set up the game-winning goal by gathering a loose puck on the left side of the Orange defensive zone, bringing it up the left side of the ice, and firing a shot on goal that hit off the cross bar. She gathered the rebound on the left side of the goal and put a backhand pass in front of the net, which Leschyshyn one-timed into the top right corner for the score.
The forward also assisted on Syracuse’s first goal when she used her stick to pop the puck in the air toward senior Lauren Bellefontaine, who gathered the puck and fired a shot from the bottom of the right circle that went across the goal mouth past Mercyhurst goalie Ena Nystróm and into the far corner of the goal.
Klimek added the third goal for the Orange outskating a Mercyhurst player to get to the puck and put it in the net from the top of the right circle with 15 seconds left to play.
“Vic deserved that opportunity (for the empty net goal),” said head coach Paul Flanagan. “Not only did she outrace their defenseman to get that empty netter, but she had a lot to do with that second goal. She hit the crossbar and then got the puck back and set Anna up.”
Klimek is tied for second on the team in scoring with 11 points, including five goals and 6 assists.
2021-22 Syracuse CHA Honors
Oct. 4 – Abby Moloughney, Forward of the Week
Oct. 11 – Arielle DeSmet, Goaltender of the Week
Oct. 18 – Jessica DiGirolamo, Defenseman of the Week
Oct. 18 – Madison Primeau, Rookie of the Week
Oct. 25 – Jessica DiGirolamo, Defenseman of the Week
Nov. 2 – Jessica DiGirolamo, Defenseman of the Month
Nov. 8 – Jessica DiGirolamo, Defenseman of the Week
Nov. 8 – Sarah Marchand, Rookie of the Week
Nov. 22 – Mae Batherson, Defenseman of the Week
Nov. 22 – Arielle DeSmet, Goaltender of the Week
Nov. 22 – Victoria Klimek, Forward of the Week
Dec. 6 – Victoria Klimek, Forward of the Week
Syracuse will host Princeton for home-and-home series at Tennity Ice Pavilion on Friday, Dec. 10th (6 pm) and Sat, Dec. 11th (2 pm). The games will be streamed on Cuse.com. The Orange will resume the season on January 1st at the Battle in the ‘Burgh Tournament in Pittsburgh.
