UM's Stoa and Kangas, DU's Salazar Honored as Red Baron WCHA Players of the Week
Minnesota's Alex Kangas is the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 21-27 |
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Oct. 28, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MADISON, Wis. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today announced the latest group of Red Baron WCHA Players of the Week, this time for the period October 28-November 3, 2008. They are forward Ryan Stoa of the University of Minnesota on offense, goaltender Alex Kangas of the University of Minnesota on defense, and forward Luke Salazar of the University of Denver as rookie.
WCHA Offensive Player of the Week • Ryan Stoa, Jr., F, Minnesota
University of Minnesota left winger Ryan Stoa, who scored three goals while leading the Golden Gophers to three of four points in a conference road series at league-rival Wisconsin last weekend, is the Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for October 28-November 3.
A 6-3, 212-pound junior from Bloomington, Minn., Stoa scored his team's first goal of the game in the second period last Friday (Oct. 24) as Minnesota rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 overtime tie. He then came back on Saturday (Oct. 25) night to lead the way with two more goals as the Golden Gophers skated to a 5-2 road victory over the host Badgers. Stoa scored just :06 into the first period, just one second off the WCHA record for fastest goal at the start of a game, held jointly by former Minnesota player Bill Klatt (11/13/68 vs Michigan) and former Michigan Tech skater Dana Decker (3/3/78 vs Minnesota Duluth).
In addition to his three goals in the series, the Colorado Avalanche (NHL) draft pick also fired eight shots on goal and earned a +3 plus/minus rating. On the season, Stoa leads his Minnesota team in scoring through the first four games with four goals, two assists and six points.
Also nominated this week were: Paul Crowder, F, UAA; Chad Rau, F, CC; Kyle Ostrow, F, DU; Justin Fontaine, F, UMD.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Week • Alex Kangas, So., G, Minnesota
Alex Kangas, the starting goaltender for the University of Minnesota, is the Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for October 28-November 3 as a result of his outstanding efforts in a successful conference road series at Wisconsin last weekend.
A 6-2, 195-pound sophomore from Rochester, Minn., Kangas stopped 54 of 58 shots on goal for a .931 saves percentage, posted four shutout periods (including one overtime) and yielded just three even-strength goals as the visiting Golden Gophers recorded a 2-2 overtime tie and 5-2 victory over league-rival Wisconsin. He had 18 stops in the tie last Friday (Oct. 24) and then 36 in the victory last Saturday (Oct. 25), including 19 in the third period. He was also part of a UM defense that held the Badgers to just one goal in 14 series power-play attempts.
A draftee of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, Kangas sports a 3-0-1 record, 1.72 goals-against average and .936 saves percentage so far this 2008-09 season. Also nominated this week was: Richard Bachman, G, CC.
WCHA Rookie of the Week • Luke Salazar, Fr., F, Denver
University of Denver right winger Luke Salazar, who had scoring points in both games of last weekend's non-conference series split against Ohio State, has been named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Oct. 28-Nov. 3.
A 5-7, 150-pound freshman from Thornton, Colo., Salazar drew an assist on a goal each night of the series against the visiting Buckeyes on Oct. 24-25. Last Friday night at DU's Magness Arena, he assisted on teammate Anthony Maiani's power-play goal at 10:48 of the second to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead en route to a 3-1 victory. Then last Saturday evening, Salazar helped stake Denver to a 2-1 second period lead in an eventual 4-3 setback when he set up teammate Joe Colborne's goal at 3:26. In the series, Salazar had two points, two shots on goal, two hits, one blocked shot and earned a +1 plus/minus rating.
On the season, Salazar has at least one scoring point in each of the Pioneers' first five games, showing a total of three goals, four assists and seven points.
Also nominated this week was: Tim Hall, F, CC.
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