Red Baron WCHA Players Of The Week Announced
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March 1, 2004
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Red Baron WCHA Men's Offensive Player of the Week
Brett Sterling
So, W, Colorado College
Colorado College left winger Brett Sterling, who led all conference players with five scoring points while helping the Tigers to a key conference road sweep at 9th-ranked St. Cloud State last weekend, has been named Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for March 1-7.
A 5-8, 170-pound sophomore from Pasadena, Calif., Sterling scored three goals and set up two others as the Tigers posted their first road sweep in more than two years (Jan. 4-5, 2002 @ UMD) and stayed in contention for a top five WCHA finish. In addition, he had 13 shots on goal and was a +7.
Last Friday (Feb. 27) night at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn., Sterling scored two goals and assisted on two others for his second four-point game of the season as Colorado College recorded a 7-1 victory over the host Huskies and was named the game's first star.
Then last Saturday (Feb. 28) evening, with CC trailing 2-1 late in the first period, Sterling scored a game-tying goal for his fifth point of the weekend and launched the Tigers (18-13-3) on to a 5-2 win and a sweep of the weekend series.
A draft choice of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, Sterling is tied for second in scoring among his CC teammates this season with 25 points (14g,11a) despite missing nine games to injury.
Also nominated this week were: Connor James, F, Denver; and Brett Engelhardt, F, MTU.
Red Baron WCHA Men's Defensive Player of the Week
Jake Brandt
Jr, G, North Dakota
University of North Dakota goaltender Jake Brandt, who backstopped the Fighting Sioux to a pivotal 4-1, 2-1 conference road sweep over then league-leading Minnesota-Duluth last weekend, has been named Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for March 1-7.
Against the most productive offensive team in the conference UMD was averaging 4.62 goals per league game and had a league-best 29.9% power-play Brandt stopped 49 of 51 shots on goal in the two-game series for a .961 saves percentage, allowed just one even-strength goal, posted four shutout periods, and limited the Bulldogs to just one PPG in 10 man-advantage opportunities.
Brandt stopped 22 of 23 shots on goal in the 4-1 win on Feb. 27 and then stopped 27 of 28 in the 2-1 triumph last Saturday, including 13 of 14 in the third period when UMD outshot the Sioux, 14-2.
A 5-9, 167-pounder from Roseau, Minn., Brandt has now started and won four consecutive games for North Dakota (24-6-3) to help them regain the lead in the WCHA. Brandt is 13-3-0, shares the nation's best winning percentage (.812) among Div. 1 goaltenders, and owns a 2.14 goals-against average and .910 saves percentage.
Also nominated this week were: Mark Stuart, D, CC; Brett Skinner, D, Denver; Cam Ellsworth, G, MTU; and Bernd Bruckler, G, UW.
Red Baron WCHA Men's Rookie of the Week
Matt Carle
Fr, D, Denver
University of Denver defenseman Matt Carle, who was a force at both ends of the ice as the Pioneers earned a key home-ice sweep against two-time defending national champion Minnesota last weekend, has been named Red Baron WCHA Rookie of the Week for March 1-7.
A 6-0, 190-pound freshman from Anchorage, Alaska, Carle earned a +3 plus-minus rating in the series, blocked 10 shots, contributed 14 hits and produced five scoring points as Denver (21-10-5) stretched its nation's current best unbeaten streak to seven games at 5-0-2.
In the Pioneers' 6-2 victory over the visiting Golden Gophers last Friday (Feb. 27) evening at Magness Arena, Carle had an assist on a game-tying goal by teammate Jeff Drummond.
Then last Saturday (Feb. 28) night, Carle came back to score the eventual game-winning goal on a power-play at 5:19 of the second period and set up three others for his second career four-point game. Named WCHA Rookie of the Week for three consecutive weeks now, Carle has produced 13 scoring points (3g, 10a) in last six games. A San Jose Sharks' (NHL) draftee, Carle was also a member of the Gold Medal-winning 2004 U.S. National Junior Team in Finland in January.
Also nominated this week were: Lee Sweatt, D, CC; Taggart Desmet, F, MTU; and Ryan Suter, D, UW.
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