Escondido native Austin Ortega has been named the Bauer NCHC Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 4.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Austin Ortega, Omaha
Senior Forward
Escondido, Calif.

Ortega totaled five points to power Omaha to a tie and win at Wisconsin last weekend.

On Friday, he dished out an assist on UNO’s first goal that tied the game, which ended in a 3-3 overtime tie. The following night, Ortega tied a career high with four points, including recording his first career hat trick, while adding a primary assist in the Mavericks’ come-from-behind 7-4 win. The senior opened the game’s scoring only 55 ticks into the game, then book-ended it with two goals in the final three minutes, including an empty-netter to seal the victory and secure the hat trick. Ortega posted a plus-3 rating in Saturday’s win and finished with a plus-2 rating in the series. He also put six shots on goal with three each night, and even blocked three shots.

With the five-point weekend, he moves into a tie for first in scoring in the NCHC for all games played with 22 points and now ranks second in the NCHC with 12 goals.

As a youth, Ortega skated for the San Diego Jr. Gulls and LA Hockey Club.

Photo/Jeff Beiermann/Omaha Athletics