WCHA Announces Players Of The Week For Dec. 3-9
Dec. 3, 2001
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WCHA Offensive Player of the Week
Connor James, F, Denver
University of Denver sophomore
forward Connor James, who led
all league players over the weekend with six scoring points in a
two-game sweep over host Minnesota-Duluth, has been selected
as the WCHA Offensive Player
of the Week for Dec. 3-9.
A 5-10, 168-pounder from Calgary, Alberta, James was an offensive sparkplug for the Pioneers, scoring three goals and setting up three others - including both game-winners - as Denver improved to 11-1-0 overall on the season and remained unbeaten in WCHA play at 8-0-0.
Last Friday (Nov. 30) night in Duluth, James had two goals and two assists, including one on teammate Kevin Ulanski's game-winner, as DU posted a 8-2 victory. James then came back on Saturday (Dec. 1) evening to score his third goal of the series and again assist on the winner - this time off the stick of Ryan Caldwell - as Denver claimed a 3-1 win. James also earned a +4 plus/minus rating in the series.
On the 2001-02 season, James is DU's second-leading scorer overall with seven goals, six assists and 13 points in 12 games. Next up for James and the Pioneers is a Dec. 7-8 home set against WCHA-rival Minnesota.
Other nominees were: Gregg Zaporzan, F, UAA, Mark Cullen, F, CC, Colin Murphy, F, MTU, Cole Bassett, F, MSU, and Nate DiCasmirro, F, SCSU.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Jason Jensen, G, MSU-Mankato
Jason Jensen, a sophomore
goaltender at Minnesota State
University, Mankato, has been
honored as the WCHA Defensive
Player of the Week for Dec. 3-9 as
a result of his outstanding efforts
in a 6-4, 6-0 road sweep at North
Dakota last weekend.
A 6-3, 200-pounder from Apple Valley, Minn., Jensen posted wins in both games against the defending WCHA-champion Fighting Sioux, stopped 52 of 56 shots on goal for a .929 saves percentage and became the first goaltender to shut out North Dakota in Grand Forks since 1982 when he backstopped a 6-0 victory last Saturday night with 30 saves. Jensen also helped hold UND to just one power-play goal in nine man-advantage opportunities.
Jensen, who took over Minnesota State's goaltending duties when starter Eric Pateman was felled by a shoulder injury and freshman Jon Volp suffered a leg injury, has started three straight games for MSU and sports a 3-1- 1 record overall, a 2.00 goals- against average, and a .927 saves percentage. He also has two shut- outs already this season.
The Mavericks, now 7-6-1 over- all in 2001-02, next play host to Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 7-8.
Other nominees this week were: Matt Shasby, D, UAA, Jeff Sanger, G, CC, Jason Grahame, D, DU, Cam Ellsworth, G, MTU, Adam Hauser, G, UM, and Dean Weasler, G, SCSU.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Kevin Ulanski, F, Denver
Freshman forward Kevin Ulanski, who contributed four
scoring points in the University
of Denver's 8-2 and 3-1 road
victories at Minnesota-Duluth
last weekend, has been named
the WCHA Rookie of the Week
for Dec. 3-9.
A 5-11, 177-pounder from Madison, Wisc., Ulanski's four points included scoring the eventual game-winning goal and setting up two others against the Bulldogs last Friday (Nov. 30) evening and another assist on an insurance goal in the Pioneers' 3-1 triumph over UMD last Sat- urday (Dec. 1) night.
Ulanski, who also earned a +2 plus/minus rating in the two games, was part of a line that produced four goals, 11 assists and 15 points in the seris and included Connor James (3-3=6) and Chris Paradise (0-5=5).
On the season, Ulanski is tied for ninth among league rookies in WCHA scoring with five points in four games played and a 1.25 points per game average.
Denver, now 11-1-0 overall and 8-0-0 in conference play, will host Minnesota this Friday and Saturday at Magness Arena. The Pioneers were ranked fourth nationally in the polls last week.
Other nominees were: Scott
Polaski, F, CC, Cam Ellsworth,
G, MTU, Barry Tallackson, F,
UM, Steven Johns, D, MSU,
Brandon Bochenski, F, UND,
and Mike Doyle, F, SCSU.
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