Chen: LEC Hockey Rookie of the Week

UMass Dartmouth’s Kailin Chen Named Little East Conference Rookie of the Week

A standout performance fueled by clutch goals and consistent playmaking has earned UMass Dartmouth freshman Kailin Chen the Little east Conference (LEC) Rookie of the Week honour. The recognition, announced by the LEC, comes after Chen helped lead the Corsairs to a perfect 2-0 weekend in conference play.

Chen, a center originally from Beijing, China, was instrumental in both victories, showcasing a skillset that has quickly made him a key contributor for UMass Dartmouth. He registered a team-high three goals and one assist over the two games, along with seven shots and a +2 plus/minus rating.

Dominating Performance at Keene State

The Corsairs’ 6-3 win over Keene State on Friday saw Chen deliver in critical moments. He provided a crucial assist on the game-tying goal, knotting the score at 3-3 early in the third period. Later, at 15:37, Chen scored the eventual game-winning goal, igniting a late offensive surge that saw UMass Dartmouth add two more goals to secure the victory. Beyond the scoresheet, Chen demonstrated a well-rounded game, adding a blocked shot and winning 10 of 17 face-offs.

Securing Victory at WestConn

Chen continued his impressive form on Saturday,scoring the game-winning goal in a tightly contested 3-2 victory against WestConn. He opened the scoring with a power-play goal with just eight seconds remaining in the first period,giving UMass Dartmouth a 1-0 lead. After WestConn leveled the score in the third,Chen once again stepped up,netting the decisive goal at 10:46.He finished the game with five shots, and both of his goals came while on the power play.

Did you know? – Kailin Chen is the first Corsair to earn LEC Rookie of the Week honors this season. The award recognizes outstanding performance by first-year student-athletes within the conference.

Rising Star in the LEC

Through 10 games this season, Chen has quickly established himself as a meaningful offensive threat. He currently ranks second on the team in scoring with five goals and eight assists for a total of 13 points.His +7 plus/minus rating is the best on the team.Chen has also proven effective on special teams, with two power-play goals – second-most on the squad – and is tied for the team lead with two game-winning tallies. He has won 113 of 194 face-offs this season.

Amongst the conference’s top performers, Chen ranks sixth in assists per game (0.80) and points per game (1.30). He is tied for third in game-winning goals, ninth in face-off winning percentage (.546), and tenth in shot percentage (0.26).

Pro tip – Face-off wins are crucial in hockey. Chen’s .546 face-off percentage gives his team more possession and scoring opportunities.

UMass Dartmouth will return to action on Friday, hosting Little East Conference rival Babson College at Hetland Arena at 5:30 p.m. The Corsairs will then welcome the University of Southern Maine on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m.contest.

Why: UMass Dartmouth freshman Kailin Chen was named Little East Conference (LEC) Rookie of the Week.
Who: Kailin Chen, a center from Beijing, China, and a freshman at UMass Dartmouth.
What: chen earned the LEC Rookie of the Week honor due to his performance in leading the Corsairs to a 2-0 weekend in conference play, scoring three goals and one assist.
How did it end?: Chen’s performance helped UMass Dartmouth secure victories against Keene State (6-3) and WestConn (3-2), both with Chen scoring the game-winning goal. The Corsairs will continue their season, hosting Babson College and the University of Southern Maine next weekend.