File. BG’s Austen Swankler, left, moves the puck past Minnesota State’s Sam Morton.

J.D. Pooley | Sentinel-Tribune

The Hockey Commissioners Association announced Bowling Green’s Austen Swankler was named HCA National Player of the Month, adding to his accolades that include Central Collegiate Hockey Association Forward of the Month.

He registered six goals and nine assists, tying for the national lead. He totaled an NCAA-best 15 points in December.

The sophomore scored in each game he played, extending his scoring streak to 12 games. In this span, he has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points.

Entering 2023, Swankler leads the conference and ranks fourth in the country in goals (14) and points (28). His is the first CCHA player to earn HCA Player of the Month honors this season.

“Congratulations to Austen on being named Player of the Month in the CCHA and by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Those are great honors for him,” BGSU coach Ty Eignear said.

Swankler started the month by recording five assists in the Lake Superior State series, including a career-best three in the Saturday win that secured a sweep.

He lit the lamp for the Falcons once in each game of the Minnesota State series, then had two goals and an assist in his only game against Ohio State.

He closed the month with a five-point weekend against RPI, which included the game-winning goal in the series finale.

The forward leads the CCHA in goals and points and tying for second in the conference in assists. Three of his goals have been game-winners, tying for second in the conference and fifth in the nation.

In his career, Swankler has 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points in 57 games.

Swankler joins Max Johnson as the only players in program history to earn HCA Player of the Month. Johnson was recognized in October 2018.

This is the 10th time the Falcons have had a player recognized with a weekly or monthly award this season, matching the total from the entire 2021-22 campaign.

This is the first time Swankler has earned CCHA Forward of the Month. Last season, he was awarded Rookie of the Month twice.

He is the second Falcon to win a monthly honor from the CCHA, joining November Goaltender of the Month Christian Stoever. Swankler has seven total awards from the league, winning Rookie of the Week three times, Rookie of the Month twice, Forward of the Week once, and Forward of the Month once.

BGSU has been recognized with a weekly or monthly winner nine times this season, just one shy of the entire total from the 2021-22 campaign.

The Falcons open 2023 with a home conference series against Lake Superior State. Bowling Green hosts the Lakers on Jan. 6-7, with both games starting at 7:07 p.m. in Slater Family Ice Arena.