UW's Geoffrion, UM's Kangas & SCSU's Weslosky, UND's Eidsness & MSU's Thompson Named Red Baron® WCHA Players of the Week
Wisconsin's Blake Geoffrion is the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Nov. 18-24 |
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Nov. 18, 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 November 18-24, 2008. They are forward Blake Geoffrion of the University of Wisconsin on offense, goaltenders Alex Kangas of the University of Minnesota and Jase Weslosky of St. Cloud State University on defense, and goaltender Brad Eidsness of the University of North Dakota and forward Tyler Thompson of Minnesota State University, Mankato as rookies.
WCHA Offensive Player of the Week • Blake Geoffrion, Jr., F, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin center Blake Geoffrion, who produced three scoring points while helping the visiting Badgers to a three-point road weekend against league rival Minnesota Duluth, is the Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for November 18-24. A 6-2, 187-pound junior from Brentwood, Tenn., Geoffrion scored two goals in the third period last Friday (Nov. 14) night, tallying back-to-back goals at 7:37 (unassisted) and 14:21(power-play) as Wisconsin battled back from a 2-1 deficit to go ahead 3-2 in an eventual 3-3 (ot) tie against the Bulldogs. Last Saturday (Nov. 15), Geoffrion had the primary assist on teammate Podge Turnbull's shorthanded goal as the Badgers skated to a 4-1 victory over UMD to extend their unbeaten streak to five games at 4-0-1. In addition, Geoffrion extended his career-best point-scoring streak to five games (6g,3a), had five shots on goal and earned a +2 plus/minus rating in the series. He is a draftee of the NHL's Nashville Predators. Also nominated this week: Chad Rau, F, CC; Ryan Stoa, F, UM; and Brett Hextall, F, UND.
WCHA Co-Defensive Players of the Week Alex Kangas, So., G, Minnesota and Jase Weslosky, Jr., G, St. Cloud State
A pair of goaltenders who backstopped their respective teams to success in league play over the weekend - Alex Kangas of the University of Minnesota and Jase Weslosky of St. Cloud State University, have been named Red Baron® WCHA co-Defensive Players of the Week for November 18-24. Kangas, 6-2, 195-pound sophomore from Rochester, Minn., recorded his first collegiate shutout and allowed just two goals in two games as Minnesota won and tied over visiting WCHA rival Michigan Tech on Nov. 15-16. He stopped all 38 shots on goal in the Golden Gophers' 3-0 victory over the Huskies Sunday, the most saves by a UM goaltender in a shutout since 1988, when Robb Stauber had 40 vs Colorado College on Feb. 27, 1988. Kangas also had 24 saves in last Saturday's 2-2 overtime tie vs MTU and held the Huskies scoreless on all 13 of their power-play attempts in the series. A draftee of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, he was named the game's first star on Nov. 16. Weslosky, a 6-2, 185-pound junior from Edmonton, Alberta, led St. Cloud State to back-to-back victories over league rival and No. 4-ranked Denver on Nov. 14-15. He chalked up 23 saves in a 4-2 win last Friday and then had 25 more in SCSU's 2-1 triumph over the Pioneers last Saturday. In addition to stopping 48 of 51 shots on goal, Weslosky also blanked DU on 10 of their 11 power-play attempts in the series. He is a draftee of the NHL's New York Islanders Also nominated this week: Brian Connelly, D, CC; Rob Nolan, G, MTU; Kurt Davis, D, MSU; Brad Malone, F, UND; Jamie McBain, D, UW.
WCHA co-Rookies of the Week Brad Eidsness, Fr., G, North Dakota and Tyler Thompson, Fr., F, Minnesota State
University of North Dakota goaltender Brad Eidsness, who stopped 29 of 30 shots on goal in a weekend conference series against Alaska Anchorage, and Minnesota State University forward Tyler Thompson, who played a key role in his team's split with No. 3-ranked league opponent Colorado College, are the Red Baron® WCHA co-Rookies of the Week for Nov. 18-24.
A 6-0, 173-pound freshman from Chestermere, Alberta and a draftee of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, Eidsness kicked aside 23 of 24 shots on goal last Saturday (Nov. 15) and blanked his opponents on all seven of their power-play chances as North Dakota recorded a 3-1 victory over the visiting Seawolves. One night earlier (Friday), Eidsness came off the bench in the second period with his team trailing 3-0 and stopped all six shots as the Sioux fell short, 3-2.
Thompson, a 6-0, 175-pound right winger from Deephaven, Minn., scored his first collegiate goal last Friday -a game-winning power-play tally at 13:59 of the third period - as Minnesota State knocked off No. 3-ranked CC, 2-1. He also had one assist last Saturday night, on a game-tying goal in the third period, as MSU came back froma 3-1 third period deficit but eventually fell 4-3 to the Tigers.
Also nominated this week: Jordan Schroeder, F, UM; Travis Novak, F, SCSU.
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