SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – After leading the Union College men's hockey team to a 6-1-0 record in October, first-year Ben Muthersbaugh and junior John Prokop were honored by ECAC Hockey as players of the month, the league announced on Thursday. Prokop was named the Defender of the Month while Muthersbaugh was honored as the Forward of the Month, presented by Bluebird Hotels, and the #Bitcoin Rookie of the Month.

Prokop scored six points (3-3-6) in the month of October. The junior started the month by scoring the overtime game winning goal against Army West Point. Prokop is a +11 through seven games and is currently tied for ninth among all defensemen nationally. This is his second ECAC Hockey Defender of the Month honor after being recognized in November of 2023.

The accolades keep rolling in for Muthersbaugh after a 13 point (6-7-13) month for the rookie. Muthersbaugh put together a seven-point weekend (3-4-7) against Mercyhurst and followed it up with a four-point weekend (2-2-4) against RPI. The rookie scored both game-winning goals against the Engineers to help Union reclaim the Capital Skates trophy for the first time since 2017. The Gilford, N.H. native has been honored by ECAC Hockey with three weekly awards so far. Last week he was the Forward of the Week, presented by Bluebird Hotels, and has gone back-to-back as the #Bitcoin Rookie of the Week. He leads all first-year players in the nation with 13 points and is only one point back from senior Jack Devine of Denver for first overall.

Muthersbaugh is the first Union rookie to be recognized since current junior Nate Hanley was honored in October 2022.

Union is off this weekend before returning to nonconference action next week against Alaska Fairbanks. Puck drop is scheduled for Friday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Messa Rink.