Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Rachael Bona, F, Jr., Minnesota

University of Minnesota forward Rachael Bona, a junior from Coon Rapids, Minn., and University of Wisconsin forward Madison Packer, a senior from Birmingham, Mich., have been named WCHA Women’s co-Offensive Players of the Week for Dec. 11, 2013.

Bona led the No. 1-ranked Gophers with six points (3g, 3a) in a league series sweep at Ohio State Dec. 7-8. She had four points (3g, 1a), including her first collegiate hat trick, in a 9-2 win Saturday before recording two assists, including one on Sarah Davis’ shorthanded game-winner, in Sunday’s 5-1 win. Bona also had nine shots on goal in the series, was a +6, and was on the ice for seven of UM’s 14 goals, including a PPG and a SHG.

With 33 points (11g, 22a) this season, Bona is tied for the WCHA lead and is second in the nation in points (33) and points per game (1.65) and she is second in the nation in assists.
 

WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

Milica McMillen, D, So., Minnesota

University of Minnesota defenseman Milica McMillen, a sophomore from St. Paul, Minn., is the WCHA Women’s Defensive Player of the Week for Dec. 11, 2013.

McMillen led all Gopher defensemen with a career-best five points (2g, 3a) in Minnesota’s Dec. 7-8 road sweep over WCHA-rival Ohio State. She extended her point-scoring streak to six games, was on the ice for eight of her team’s 14 goals and finished the series with a +6 rating and seven shots on goal.

McMillen led all players with a career-best four points (2g, 2a) in Sunday’s (Dec. 8) 5-1 win over the host Buckeyes. She scored UM’s first goal of the game at 4:03 before giving the Gophers a 3-1 lead with her second of the game on the power-play at 3:01 of the second period. She then assisted on UM’s fourth and fifth goals as well, was on the ice for four of her team’s five goals, and was +3. McMillen and the Gophers held OSU to 13 shots on goal.

In the series opener last Saturday, McMillen finished +3 and assisted on Dani Cameranesi’s PPG in the third period of the Gophers’ 9-2 win. She was on the ice for four Gopher goals, including the winner and one PPG.

McMillen is tied for seventh all-time among Gopher defensemen with 20 career goals. She also leads WCHA defensemen and ranks fourth in the nation among blueliners with 1.06 points per game. Her 19 points (7g, 12a) are tops in the league and tied for second in the NCAA.
 

WCHA Rookie of the Week

Dani Cameranesi, F, Fr., Minnesota

University of Minnesota forward Dani Cameranesi, a freshman from Plymouth, Minn., has been named the WCHA Women’s Rookie of the Week for Dec. 11, 2013.

Cameranesi recorded her second-straight four-point series (2g, 2a) in Minnesota’s 9-2, 5-0 conference road sweep at Ohio State last weekend. Cameranesi finished the series with four points, including two goals on five shots. She scored her first career shorthanded goal and added a power-play goal. Cameranesi was even on the plus/minus after being on the ice for three Gopher goals, including two power-play tallies.

In last Saturday’s 9-2 Minnesota win, Cameranesi scored the first shorhanded goal of her Gopher career to put her club ahead 4-1 at 9:37 of the second period. She then added her NCAA-best fifth power-play goal of the season at 8:24 of the third. Cameranesi also assisted on the Gophers’ first goal of the game. For the game, she had two goals on two shots and blocked one OSU shot.

Then in last Sunday’s 5-1 victory over the host Buckeyes, Cameranesi assisted on Milica McMillen’s power-play goal, the Gophers’ third goal of the game, at 3:01 of the second period. She also recorded three shots on goal.

Cameranesi’s five power-play goals are tied for the nation’s best. She is also tied for the lead among WCHA rookies in scoring with 17 points (10g, 7a) while playing in all 20 of top-ranked Minnesota’s games this season.