WCHA Offensive Player of the Week
Hannah Brandt, F, So., Minnesota
MADISON, Wis. – University of Minnesota forward Hannah Brandt, a sophomore from Vadnais Heights, Minn., has been named the WCHA Women’s Offensive Player of the Week for Feb. 12, 2014.
Brandt led the Gophers with five points in a conference sweep over Bemidji State last weekend at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. She scored four goals on six shots and also added one assist for a five-point series. She also earned a +3 plus/minus rating. Brandt’s goals included three even-strength goals and one power-play tally.
In No. 1-ranked Minnesota’s 10-0 win over the Beavers last Friday (Feb. 7), Brandt scored two goals on four shots and was on the ice for three Gopher goals for a +3 rating. Then in a 5-3 win last Saturday (Feb. 8), Brandt scored two more goals on two shots and added an assist. She netted the team’s first goal on the power-play at 7:15 of the first period, set up freshman Kate Flug’s first career goal for a 3-0 lead at 1:55 of the second, and then notched UM’s fifth goal to seal the win at 18:54 of the second.
Brandt, who has 13 points (5g, 8a) during her current eight-game point streak, leads the WCHA in scoring with 49 points (18g, 31a) and ranks second in the nation with 1.63 points per game.
WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Milica McMillen, D, So., Minnesota
MADISON, Wis. – University of Minnesota defenseman Milica McMillen, a sophomore from St. Paul, Minn., is the WCHA Women’s Defensive Player of the Week for Feb. 12, 2014.
McMillen led the Gopher blue line with five points on five assists in top-ranked Minnesota’s sweep over league-rival Bemidji State last weekend in Minneapolis. She recorded two assists in a 10-0 win on Feb. 7 before adding three more helpers in the Gophers’ 5-3 victory on Feb. 8 in game two.
McMillen also helped the Gophers hold BSU to three goals on 42 shots for the weekend. She had five shots on goal, two blocked shots and had a plus/minus rating of +5 for the series.
In Minnesota’s 10-0 victory last Friday, McMillen assisted the final two goals of the game. She was on the ice for four goals, including the game-winner. In Minnesota’s 5-3 win on Saturday, she recorded three assists, setting up the first goal (PPG), the game-winner (PPG) and the fifth goal. McMillen was on the ice for four Gopher goals, including two power-play tallies. She recorded four shots.
McMillen leads the league and ranks second in the nation in points per game among defensemen with 31 points (8g, 23a) in 28 games for 1.11 points per game. She is also 10th in the nation with 0.82 assists per game and is tied for seventh among all-time Gopher defensemen with 21 career goals.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Lauren Hespenheide, F, Fr., St. Cloud State
MADISON, Wis. – St. Cloud State University forward Lauren Hespenheide, a freshman from Shakopee, Minn., has been named the WCHA Women’s Rookie of the Week for Feb. 12, 2014.
Hespenheide scored back-to-back goals last Friday (Feb. 7) night as the visiting Huskies took a 2-0 lead after the second period against Minnesota State, but the Mavericks rallied with four third period goals and took a 4-2 victory.
Then on Saturday (Feb. 8), with the series finale tied at 3-3 after overtime and going to a shootout, Hespenheide earned the Huskies an extra point as she buried a shot into the back of the net in round two for a 1-0 shootout victory. She ended the weekend recording 11 shots on goal, scoring two goals and finishing even on the plus/minus.
In 30 games played this season, Hespenheide is St. Cloud State’s top scoring rookie with seven points (3g, 4a).