Backman Named ECACHL Player of the Week

Feb. 5, 2007

Freshman forward Sean Backman was named ECACHL Player of the Week today after a six-point weekend.

Backman scored five goals, including one shorthanded, and assisted on another last weekend in conference play. He had Yale's first hat trick in two seasons in a loss at Quinnipiac on Friday before netting two goals in a home win over Princeton.

His 16 goals rank 17th overall in the country while he is third among NCAA rookies, two goals behind leader Mark Letestu of Western Michigan.

The Yale freshman record for goals in a season is 19 by Tom Walsh (1984-85). Backman, who was ECACHL Rookie of the Week on Jan. 8, leads Yale with 16-9-25 and is second in conference points per game for frosh (fifth overall).

Backman, who has two shorthanders this year, has a point in 16 of the 23 games including three multiple-goal outings.

He is the son of a former New York Ranger and New Haven (AHL) Nighthawk Mike Backman.