VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks centre Cody Hodgson has been named the National Hockey League’s rookie of the month, it was announced today.

Hodgson, who turns 22 in just over two weeks time, led all rookies in scoring with 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 11 games. Among those goals were clutch markers in the Canucks’ two biggest games of the season, victories over the arch-rival Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks.

He edged Philadelphia Flyers forwards Sean Couturier (5-4-9 in 13 games) and Matt Read (3-6-9 in 13 games), Ottawa Senators forward Colin Greening (4-5-9 in 14 games) Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw (5-2-7 in 12 games) and Nashville Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis (2-5--7 in 12 games) for the award.

Hodgson tallied the game-winning goal as part of multiple-point efforts in victories over the Bruins (4-3, Jan. 7) and San Jose Sharks (4-3, Jan. 21). He closed the month by scoring the game-tying goal on a breakaway in the third period of what ended as a 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 31. The goal was Hodgson's 14th of the season, second among NHL rookies behind Philadelphia's Matt Read (15).

Hodgson ranks fourth in the rookie scoring race with 30 points (14 goals,16 assists) in 50 games and is second among rookies in power-play goals (five). He’s the highest-scoring Canucks rookie since 2000-01, when Daniel and Henrik Sedin compiled 34 and 29 points, respectively.

Selected by the Canucks in the first round (10th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Hodgson joins Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (October and November) and New Jersey Devils forward Adam Henrique (December) as Rookie of the Month award winners this season.

vancouversun.com