Denver's Rakhshani, UW's Davies, DU's Wiercioch, MSU's Cook Named Red Baron WCHA Players of the Week
Rhett Rakhshani is the WCHA co-Offensive Player of the Week |
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Jan. 5, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MADISON, Wis. – The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today announced it’s players of the week for the period Dec. 18-Jan. 3, 2009. They are forwards Rhett Rakhshani of the University of Denver and Michael Davies of the University of Wisconsin on offense, Denver blueliner Patrick Wiercioch on defense, and Minnesota State goaltender Phil Cook as rookie.
Red Baron® WCHA co-Offensive Players of the Week
Rhett Rakhshani, Sr., F, Denver
Michael Davies, Sr., F, Wisconsin
A pair of senior forwards who both earned tournament MVP honors while leading their respective teams to holiday tournament championships – Denver’s Rhett Rakhshani and Wisconsin’s Michael Davies – have been named Red Baron® WCHA co-Offensive Players of the Week for the period Dec. 18-Jan. 3.
Rakhshani, a 5-10, 180-pounder from Huntington Beach, Calif., was named MVP of the Wells Fargo Denver Cup after recording six points on four goals and two assists for champion Denver. He was also named the first star of both games and logged a +5 rating.
A New York Islanders (NHL) draftee, Rakhshani tallied two goals and one assist with a +4 rating in a 7-0 win over Nebraska Omaha on Jan. 1. He then scored two more goals, including the game-tying goal with 5:16 left and the game-winning assist with 3:15 left, in DU’s 4-3 comeback win over Boston College in the title contest on Jan. 2.
On the season, Rakhshani leads the WCHA with 15 goals, and has five, two-goal games this season.
Davies, a 5-8, 175-pounder from St. Louis, Mo., posted five points on Wisconsin’s seven goals to lead all scorers at the 21st and final Badger Hockey Showdown and earn tournament MVP honors.
Last Saturday, Davies set up three goals in the UW’s 5-4 victory over Merrimack. With the Badgers trailing 2-0 at the 13:06 mark of the first period, Davies then set up Wisconsin’s next three goals by the 7:06 mark of the second period to give his club a 3-2 lead.
Then on Sunday, Davies accounted for both Wisconsin goals in a 2-2 overtime tie against Yale and a third during the shootout. The Badgers fell behind 1-0 early in the first period, but Davies scored twice in the second period to give the UW a 2-1 lead. He scored at 2:26 in the second period, then again at 14:11 on the power-play, driving around a defender, then backhanding a shot past the Yale goaltender. He later added the first goal of the shootout for the Badgers, which the UW won 2-1 for their 11th Badger Hockey Showdown title.
On the season, Davies now has eight goals and 21 points in 18 games to rank third on the Badgers in scoring.
Also nominated this week were: David Civitarese, F, CC; Mike Hoeffel, F, UM; and Brett Hextall, F, UND.
Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Patrick Wiercioch, So., D, Denver
University of Denver defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, who played a key role at both ends of the ice as his team won the Wells Fargo Denver Cup tournament, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Jan. 3, 2010.
A 6-4, 185-pound sophomore from Maple Grove, B.C., Wiercioch earned all-tournament team honors while helping the Pioneers limit their two opponents to three total goals and a combined 0-of-7 on the power-play while himself contributing three scoring points, 10 hits and two blocked shots.
In DU’s 7-0 shutout win over Nebraska-Omaha last Friday (Jan. 1), Wiercioch had a goal and an assist and earned a +3 on-ice rating. He then added another assist in the championship game last Saturday (Jan. 2) as the Pioneers fought back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Boston College 4-3 and earn the Denver Cup title.
In 18 games played so far this season, Wiercioch, and Ottawa Senators (NHL) draftee, has produced three goals, 12 assists and 15 points for No. 2-ranked Denver.
Also nominated this week were: Nate Prosser, D, CC; and Jake Marto, D, UND.
Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week
Phil Cook, Fr., G, Minnesota State
First-year goaltender Phil Cook, who backstopped his Minnesota State University team to a 2-0-1 record between Dec. 18-Jan. 3, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week.
A 6-3, 190-pound freshman from Wheaton, Ill., Cook started three of four games for the Mavericks over the holidays and came away with a 2-0-1 record, a 0.65 goals-against average, and a .974 saves percentage with 75 stops on 77 shots.
Cook stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 1-1 (ot) tie with Nebraska-Omaha Dec. 18, surrending just one power-play goal, and was the first star of the game.
He then stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 6-1 Minnesota State win over visiting RIT last Friday (Jan. 1), blanking his opponents on all five of their power-play chances and earning No. 2 star honors.
Then last Saturday (Jan. 2), Cook stepped up to earn first collegiate shutout by stopping all 20 shots on goal in the Mavericks’ 3-0 win, again earning No. 1 star of the game acclaim. He became first MSU freshman netminder to record a shutout since the 2004-05 season when Dan Tormey accomplished the feat twice.
On the 2009-10 season, Cook is 3-0-1 overall with a 0.87 goals-against average and .967 saves percentage in six appearances between the pipes.
Also nominated this week were: Joe Howe, G, CC; Drew Shore, F, DU; and Ben Hanowski, F, SCSU.
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