WCHA Players of the Week - 11/20

Colorado College forward Chad Rau, Minnesota Duluth goalie Alex Stalock, Denver goalie Peter Mannino, and Alaska Anchorage defensemen Kane Lafranchise have been named the WCHA Players of the Week.

From the press release:

Colorado College center iceman Chad Rau, who helped the host Tigers to a two-game sweep over conference rival Wisconsin last weekend, has been named the Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Nov. 20-26.

A 5-11, 184-pound junior from Eden Prairie, Minn., Rau produced four scoring points - including two shorthanded goals and a game-winner - as Colorado College moved into sole possession of first place in the WCHA race with a 4-3 victory over the Badgers last Friday at Colorado Springs World Arena and a 6-1 win last Saturday.

Rau scored two goals, including a game-tying shorthander at 3:21 of the third period, and set up another for three points on Nov. 16. Then on Nov. 17, Rau came back to score the eventual game-winning goal at 12:38 of the first period, this time with an unassisted shorthanded effort. In addition to his four points, Rau also earned a +4 plus-minus rating, fired five shots on goal, and won 59.5% of his faceoffs (22-of-37) in the series.

On the season, Rau is second in scoring for the first place Tigers, showing 6-5-11 in 10 games. He leads the team and shares the WCHA lead with three game-winning goals and two shorthanded tallies.

Also nominated this week were: Tyler Ruegsegger, F, DU; and Josh Meyers, D, UMD.

The University of Denver's Peter Mannino and the University of Minnesota Duluth's Alex Stalock - a pair of goaltenders who played crucial roles while helping their respective teams to successful results in league series last weekend have been named Red Baron WCHA co-Defensive Players of the Week for Nov. 20-26.

Mannino, a 6-0, 195-pound senior from Farmington Hills, Mich., stopped 56 of 57 shots on goal for a .982 saves percentage in the series and posted five shutout periods to backstop the Pioneers to 2-1 and 7-0 victories over Minnesota State on Nov. 16-17 at Magness Arena. The shutout last Saturday evening was his second of the season and 11th of his collegiate career. Mannino, who also had two assists last Saturday, including one on the game-winning goal, stands 8-2-0 on the season, is second among league goaltenders with a 1.31 goals-against average, and is first in saves percentage at .949. He has allowed one goal or less in DU's eight wins.

Stalock, a 6-0, 185-pound sophomore from South St. Paul, Minn., helped the host Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs to a three-point weekend against WCHA-rival Michigan Tech on Nov. 16-17, with a 1-1 overtime tie last Friday and a 4-1 triumph last Saturday.

Stalock stopped 65 of 67 opponent shots on goal in the series for a .970 saves percentage, did not surrender an even-strength goal as both of the Huskies' tallies came via the power-play, and had five shutout periods, including an overtime. He had 26 stops in the tie on Nov. 16 and 39 - including 34 in the first two periods - in the win on Nov. 17.

A member of the All-WCHA Rookie Team a year ago, Stalock is now 5-3-2 overall with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .929 saves percentage.

Also nominated this week were: Jon Olthuis, G, UAA; and Nate Prosser, D, CC.

University of Alaska Anchorage defenseman Kane Lafranchise, who played a key role in a two-game conference series at Minnesota last weekend, has been named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Nov. 20-26.

A 6-1, 198-pound freshman from Edmonton, Alberta, Lafranchise recorded his first collegiate goal and multiple-point game last Saturday (Nov. 17) to help the visiting Seawolves to a 4-2 victory over the two-time defending league champion Golden Gophers at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. He scored a game-tying goal at 15:56 of the first period and then drew an assist on teammate Brad McCabe's insurance goal at 10:02 of the third.

Lafranchise, who skated on UAA's top defensive pairing, also helped his team kill 10 of 11 opponent power-plays in the series, earned a +2 plus-minus rating, and fired four shots on goal.

Also nominated this week were: Richard Bachman, G, CC; and Dustin Jackson, F, DU.