PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Following a huge offensive weekend, freshman Kim Hilmersson (Uppsala, Sweden) earned Little East Conference (LEC) weekly honors, the league announced Monday.
 
Hilmersson was named LEC Men's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week after exploding for six points on three goals and three assists as the Panthers split the final weekend of the regular season to clinch the No. 3 seed in this week's LEC Tournament.
 
Hilmersson came up huge on Friday night, having a hand in five of PSU's six goals in a key 6-2 win over Southern Maine that secured a home playoff game for the Panthers. He set up the game-opening goal just 43 seconds in, then potted his first goal of the night just over three minutes later as PSU built an early 2-0 lead. After the Huskies tied the game, Hilmersson set up the go-ahead goal and added his second tally of the night midway through the second period as the Panthers took control. He capped his career night with an assist on PSU's final goal in the third period.
 
He continued his strong offensive play in Saturday's regular season-finale against No. 11 Babson. He opened the scoring with a power-play goal early in the second period, though the Beavers responded with a pair of power-play goals later in the frame to earn a 3-1 win.
 
The LEC Tournament begins Wednesday (Feb. 25), when No. 3 Plymouth State (14-10-1, 11-6-1 LEC) hosts No. 6 VTSU Castleton (13-10-2, 9-8-1 LEC) in a first-round game at Hanaway Rink (6 p.m.). The winner advances to face No. 2 Babson in the semifinals on Saturday (Feb. 28).