Honoring this week’s top performers

College hockey’s various Division I leagues released their players of the week awards for last weekend’s performances and here are a few of note with Minnesota ties:

WCHA Women

Amanda Kessel

University of Minnesota forward Amanda Kesselscored her team and nation-leading 15th goal of the season to go with 3 assists leading  No. 1 Minnesota to a sweep at Minnesota Duluth and capture the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week award. The junior from Madison, Wis. assisted on both game winning goals. It is the second such honor for Kessel who also won on Oct. 3.

Hanna Brandt

Gopher forward Hanna Brandt‘s four assists in Duluth earned the freshman from Vadnais Heights, Minn. her third (Oct. 3 and Oct. 24) WCHA Rookie of the Week award. the four points raise her overall season total to 33, good for tops in the nation and one point ahead of Kessel.

Here’s the link to the full release.

Hockey East Women

Lexi Slattery

Defenseman Lexi Slattery of Lino Lakes, Minn. scored her first collegiate goal and added an assist in helping her Providence College team to a series sweep at Maine and earn the Hockey East Rookie of the Week award. Slattery now has six points (1-5–6) through 10 games played for the Friars this season.

Here’s the link to the full release.

WCHA Men

Zach Palmquist

Minnesota State’s one-goal loss and upset win over then No. 2 Minnesota was recognized by the league with a pair of awards. Mavericks defenseman Zach Palmquist captured WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors. The sophomore from South St. Paul, Minn. registered a power-play goal in Friday’s 3-2 loss and an assist in Saturday’s 5-3 MSU win while helping hold the Gophers to just two even-strength goals in the series.

Dylan Margonari

On the strength of his first career goal, which just happened to be a game winner, Minnesota State forward Dylan Margonari is the WCHA’s Rookie of the Week. The freshman forward from Greensburg, Pa. scored at 16:19 of the third period on Saturday to lift the Mavericks to a 4-3 lead on their way to a 5-3 win.

Here’s the link to the full release.

CCHA Men

Anders Lee

With three goals and an assist in a split with Western Michigan, Notre Dame captain Anders Lee was named CCHA Offensive Player of the Week. The junior forward from Edina, Minn. was not shy about firing the puck in releasing 12 shots over the weekend and Lee also finished with a +4 plus/minus rating in the series.
Here’s the link to the full release.