February 5, 2013
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Red Baron® WCHA
A 6-0, 195-pound senior centerman from Hermantown, Minn., LeBlanc and the on-rushing Huskies extended their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1) since January 5 and their WCHA unbeaten string to nine games (8-0-1) since December 7 with the back-to-back wins at BSU on February 1-2. That surge has seen SCSU open a three-point lead in the race for the WCHA regular season championship with five weeks to go. To open the series at BSU last Friday, LeBlanc had an assist on Ben Hanowski's first period goal in a 4-0 victory. He then fashioned a multi-point effort in SCSU's 4-1 win over the Beavers on Saturday, notching his nation's best 30th assist on David Morley's second period power-play goal and scoring an unassisted goal in the third period to ice the contest. In the series, he also had four shots on goal and earned a +2 plus/minus rating. On the season, LeBlanc (28 gp, 8-30=38) continues to lead the nation with 30 assists and he is second in points with 38. Over his 157 game collegiate career, he shows 135 points (37g, 98a). Also nominated: Alexander Krushelnyski, F, CC; Shawn Ostrow, F, DU; Josh Archibald, F, UNO. |
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Red Baron® WCHA
A 6-2, 200-pound sophomore from Helsinki, Finland, Olkinuora surrendered just one even-strength goal in the series while turning aside 56 of 59 shots on goal for a .949 save percentage and posting four shutout periods as the Pioneers vaulted back into contention in the WCHA race. He stopped all 26 shots on goal and blanked the host Bulldogs on all six of their power-play chances last Friday (Feb. 1) night for his second shutout of the season as Denver won 3-0. Then last Saturday (February 2) evening, he stepped up with a 30-save effort as the Pioneers rallied from a 3-1 third period deficit to complete the sweep over UMD with a 4-3 triumph. Two of the three goals he allowed in the series finale came via the power-play (2-of-7). Over 921:23 of action in nets this season, Olkinuora sports a 9-2-4 record with a 1.95 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. Among WCHA netminders overall, he ranks second in winning percentage, first in save percentage, and fifth in goals-against average. Also nominated: Brady Wacker, D, BSU; Andrej Sustr, D, UNO; Zane Gothberg, G, UND; Ryan Faragher, G, SCSU. |
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Red Baron® WCHA
A 6-2, 198-pound freshman from Thief River Falls, Minn., Gothberg was twice named the No. 2 Star of the Game after allowing just a single goal each night in North Dakota's 1-1 (ot) tie and 4-1 victory against the Badgers He stopped 50 of 52 shot on goal (.962 Sv%) in the series, posted five shutout periods, and blanked Wisconsin on all eight of their power-play chances. He made 29 saves last Friday (Feb. 1) and 21 more on Saturday (Feb. 2) while coming within 6:30 of his first collegiate shutout, as UND moved into a share of third place in the WCHA and snapped a five-game winless streak. A draft choice of the NHL's Boston Bruins, Gothberg is 4-3-2 on the season (548:53) and owns a 2.62 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. Also nominated: Jared Hanson, F, CC; Nolan Zajac, D, DU. |
St. Cloud State University forward Drew LeBlanc, who led the Huskies with three scoring points in a two-game conference road sweep at Bemidji State last weekend, is the Red Baron® WCHA Men's Offensive Player of the Week for February 5.
Coming up big between the pipes for the University of Denver in back-to-back league road victories at Minnesota Duluth last weekend, Pioneers' goaltender Juho Olkinuora is the Red Baron® WCHA Men's Defensive Player of the Week for February 5.
University of North Dakota goaltender Zen Gothberg, who backstopped his team to a three-point weekend against visiting league-rival Wisconsin while starting both games of a two-game series for the first time, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Men's Rookie of the Week for February 5.