DANBURY, Conn. – First-year Nathan Free was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month, presented by Just Play, after the eye-catching start to his first season for the Union College men's hockey team, the conference office announced Thursday morning. 

Free, from Calgary, Alberta, has posted 11 points on six goals and five assists through seven games to start the year. All 11 of his points have come during his active six-game point streak, and he scored four goals in two games against Rensselaer last weekend to earn his second consecutive Rookie of the Week award from the conference. 

Free has helped propel Union to a 5-2-0 start and a #17 ranking in the USCHO poll, netting three game-winners so far. Not only is his production helping Union stack wins, but his numbers are also historically and nationally significant as well. He leads all NCAA Division I men's hockey rookies in goals (6), he leads all players in game-winning goals (3), and he already is tied for the most-game winning goals by a Union rookie since 2005-06 when game-by-game data is available. After a pair of two-goal games against RPI, he is one multi-goal game away from tying Daniel Carr '12 for the most multi-goal games by a Union rookie since at least 2005-06 as well. In that same span, Free is the only Union first-year to have two or more goals in consecutive games. 

Free and the 17th-ranked Garnet Chargers look to defend their undefeated ECAC Hockey record early in the season when they take on Clarkson on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Potsdam, N.Y.