Red Baron® WCHA
Offensive Player of the Week
J.T. Brown - Sophomore, Forward
University of Minnesota Duluth

University of Minnesota Duluth right winger J.T. Brown, who turned in a five-goal weekend – including four in one game – as the visiting Bulldogs split a league series at Alaska Anchorage, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for February 7.

A 5-10, 170-pound sophomore from Burnsville, Minn., Brown accounted for all of UMD's scoring last Friday night in a 4-1 triumph over the host Seawolves, incuding a natural hat trick (three straight goals) and the game-winner in the first period. The four goals, coming 2:30, 11:36 and 19:10 of the first period and then again at 15:34 of the second, were one shy of the team's single-game record. Then in a 3-2 setback to UAA last Saturday evening, Brown got the Bulldogs on the board at 9:26 of the third period by scoring a fifth straight goal for his club. In addition to his four goals in the series, Brown fired nine shots on goal and earned a +4 plus/minus rating.

On the season, Brown has tied his rookie year total with 16 goals and is tied for second among in scoring among his UMD teammates with 37 points. He also currently ranks first in the country in plus/minus at +27 and is the first Bulldog to register two hat tricks in the same season (his other came at Nebraska Omaha on Jan. 13) since MacGregor Sharp did it in 2008-09.

Also nominated: Jordan George, F, BSU; Jaden Schwartz, F, CC; Ryan Furne, F, MTU; Nic Dowd, F, SCSU.

Red Baron® WCHA
Defensive Player of the Week
Mike Lee - Junior, Goaltender
St. Cloud State University

Veteran goaltender Mike Lee, who did not allow an even-strength goal while stopping 72 of 74 shots on goal and leading St. Cloud State University to a two-game conference road sweep at Wisconsin last weekend, is the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for February 7.

A 6-1, 190-pound junior from Roseau, Minn., and a draftee of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, Lee recorded four shutout periods against the host Badgers, posted a .973 save percentage (72 of 74), and had double-digit saves in all six periods as the Huskies recorded 5-1 and 2-1 road victories. Last Friday (Feb. 3) night, Lee made 31 saves while surrending a single third period power-play goal with 2:05 remaining in the game. Then last Saturday (Feb. 4) evening, Lee came back with a 41-stop performance, yielding only a second period power-play goal and stopping all 18 UW shots on goal in the third period as St. Cloud State rallied froma 1-0 deficit to prevail 2-1.

Lee, who missed 20 consecutive games this season to injury before returning to on-ice action on Jan. 27, is now 4-3-1 on the season with a 2.60 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

Also nominated: Dan Bakala, G, BSU; Gabe Guentzel, D, CC.

Red Baron® WCHA
Rookie of the Week
Zach Palmquist - Freshman, Defenseman
Minnesota State University

Minnesota State University defenseman Zach Palmquist, who contributed two goals and four scoring points and earned a First Star of the Game honor as the Mavericks split a league series with visiting Michigan Tech last weekend, has been named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for February 7.

A 5-11, 175-pound freshman from South St. Paul, Minn., Palmquist had a goal and an assist with three shots on goal and was a +2 on the plus/minus as Minnesota State posted a 5-3 win over the Huskies last Friday (Feb. 3) night. Named the game's first star in the victory, he scored the first goal of the contest at 10:46 of the first period and later assisted on teammate Matt Leitner's game-winning tally at 1:16 of the third. Palmquist then had another goal and an assist last Saturday night in a 7-3 loss and finished the series with six shots on goal.

Playing in all 30 of his team's games as a rookie this season, Palmquist is the Mavericks' top-scoring defenseman with 15 points (6g, 9a).

Also nominated: Sam Windle, D, BSU; David Johnstone, F, MTU.