UMD's Blais & Rasmussen, UM's Räty Named WCHA Women's Players of the Week for Oct. 28-Nov. 3
UMD's Jaime Rasmussen is WCHA Defensive Player of the Week |
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Oct. 28, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MADISON, Wis. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today (Oct. 28) announced the women's players of the week for Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2009. They are University of Minnesota Duluth forward Emmanuelle Blais on offense, University of Minnesota Duluth defenseman Jaime Rasmussen on defense, and University of Minnesota goaltender Noora Räty as rookie.
WCHA Offensive Player of the Week
Emmanuelle Blais, Sr., F, Minnesota Duluth
Senior forward Emmanuelle Blais tallied four goals and an assist for the No. 5-ranked Minnesota Duluth last weekend to help the Bulldogs sweep WCHA rival and visiting North Dakota.
The native of Lasalle, Quebec netted her first collegiate three-goal hat trick in last Friday's (Oct. 23) 4-1 win over the Sioux, including two power-play goals. Trailing 1-0 at the start of the second period, Blais scored at 0:24 to tie the game and then PPGs at 15:11 of period two and at 9:13 of the third to complete her hat trick.
Last Saturday (Oct. 24), Blais scored UMD's first goal of the game Saturday, which tied the score just 10 minutes into play. She also had an assist on the Bulldogs' final goal to give her a total of five points on the weekend. She also fired eight shots on goal and earned a +2 plus/minus rating.
Blais, who leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 11 points (7g, 4a) through eight games, is also ranked second in the WCHA for points and goals.
Also nominated for the award this week were: Erin Cody, F, BSU; Laura May, F, UM; Laura McIntosh, F, OSU; and Mallory Deluce, F, UW.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Jaime Rasmussen Sr., D, Minnesota Duluth
University of Minnesota Duluth senior defenseman Jaime Rasmussen registered a goal and four assists last weekend against North Dakota to help the No. 5-ranked Bulldogs to a two-game sweep of their WCHA series in Duluth.
A product of Garden Grove, Calif., Rasmussen dished out a career-high three assists from the blueline last Friday (Oct. 23) night in the Bulldogs'4-1 win over the visiting Sioux.
The assistant UMD team captain then scored the game-winning goal last Saturday (Oct. 24) on a power blast from the point, before adding an assist on the Bulldogs' third goal in a 3-1 triumph over UND. In addition to her five scoring points, Rasmussen also fired 12 shots on goal in the series.
Rasmussen currently is the highest scoring blueliner in the country in Div. 1 women's hockey with eight points (2g, 6a) through eight games for a 1.00 points per game average. She is also tied for the No. 2 spot in the WCHA with her six assists, and ranks No. 1 in the conference with five (1g, 4a) power-play points.
Also nominated for the award this week were: Montana Vichorek, D, BSU; and Alyssa Grogan, G, UM.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Noora Räty Fr., G, Minnesota
University of Minnesota freshman goaltender Noora Räty, a native of Espoo, Finland, helped the visiting Golden Gophers to a 4-0 shutout over WCHA rival St. Cloud State last Friday night.
Räty turned away all 32 St. Cloud State shots on goal on Oct. 23, a career-high in her first season at UM. She had 11 saves in the first period, nine in the second and 12 in the third for her fifth win of the season and second consecutive shutout. She also blanked the host Huskies on all seven of their power-play opportunities.
On the 2009-10 season, Räty holds a 5-0-0 overall record, an 0.60 goals-against average, and a .977 saves percentage in 299:18 of action. She ranks No. 1 in the WCHA in all three categories.
Also nominated for the award this week were: Erika Wheelhouse, D, BSU; Hokey Langan, F, OSU; and Saige Pacholok, D, UW.
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