Rau Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week

Center Chad Rau, who had two goals and an assist in last weekend's sweep of Denver, was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday. Rau has registered at least a point in each of his 12 career games against the Pioneers, totaling 19 of his 101 career points (18.8 percent).

Rau missed tying for the league scoring title by a point to St. Cloud State's Ryan Lasch (17 goals, 17 assists). But Rau's 23 goals in conference play were tops in the WCHA and his 0.82 goals per game was 0.19 more than Lasch's. In overall scoring, Rau finished fourth with 40 points (27 goals, 13 assists), but again had the most goals of any WCHA player.

March 11, 2008/For Immediate Release

CC’s Rau, UND’s Lamoureux, SCSU’s Weslosky Named Red Baron® WCHA Players of the Week

Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week
Chad Rau
Jr., F, Colorado College

MADISON, Wis. – Colorado College center Chad Rau, who produced two goals and one assist while helping his Tigers clinch the 2007-08 WCHA regular season championship with a home-and-home sweep of archrival Denver last weekend, has been named Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for March 11. Rau also earned the weekly offensive honor on Nov. 20 (vs UW) and on Nov. 27 (vs DU).

A 5-11, 184-pound junior from Eden Prairie, Minn., Rau scored a pair of goals just :12 seconds apart in the third period last Friday (March 7) night at DU’s Magness Arena, breaking open a 3-2 game and propelling CC on to a 5-2 victory that clinched the league title and MacNaughton Cup.

Then last Saturday evening back at the Colorado Springs World Arena, Rau assisted on a second-period goal by teammate Bill Sweatt in a 3-1 victory over the Pioneers.

In addition to his three points, Rau also fired eight shots on goal in the two-game series and earned a +3 plus-minus rating.

On the season, Rau leads Colorado College in scoring and is fourth among WCHA players overall with 40 points (27g, 13a) in 35 games played. His 27 goals ranks second nationally.

The No. 3-ranked Tigers (26-9-1) play host to Alaska-Anchorage this weekend (March 14-16) in a first round, best-of-3 WCHA playoff series at Colorado Springs World Arena.


Red Baron® WCHA co-Defensive Players of the Week
Jean-Philippe Lamoureux
Sr., G, North Dakota
and
Jase Weslosky
Sr., G, North Dakota

MADISON, Wis. – A pair of goaltenders who dueled each other to a pair of overtime ties last weekend – Jean-Philippe Lamoureux of the University of North Dakota and Jase Weslosky of St. Cloud State University, have been named Red Baron® WCHA co-Defensive Players of the Week for March 11.

A 5-8, 152-pound senior from Grand Forks, N.D., Lamoureux stopped 48 of 51 shots on goal for a .941 saves percentage in the 1-1 (ot) and 2-2 (ot) ties, recorded five shutout periods (including two overtimes), and allowed only one even-strength goal.

His efforts enabled Lamoureux to win the 2007-08 WCHA goaltending title with a 1.74 goals-against average in league play. He also leads the nation in overall goals-against average at 1.66, is tied for the national lead in saves percentage at .934, and sports a 22-8-4 record over 2,025:28 of playing time. He previously won the weekly defensive honor on Dec. 4 (@ DU) and March 4 (@ UMD).

Weslosky, a 6-2, 185-pound sophomore from Edmonton, Alberta, stopped 57 of 60 shots on goal for a .950 saves percentage in the two overtime ties at North Dakota on March 7-8, recording five shutout periods (including two overtimes) and allowing just two even-strength goals in the series.

In the 1-1 tie last Friday, Weslosky stopped 29 of 30 shots as the Huskies were outshot, 30-18. Then in the 2-2 tie last Saturday, he kicked out 28 of 30 UND shots on goal, including 16 in the second period.

The two ties enabled St. Cloud State (17-14-5) to secure a share of fourth place in the final regular season standings and earn the fifth and final home playoff berth for this weekend’s opening round. The Huskies will host Wisconsin at the National Hockey Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary).

On the season, Weslosky sports a 14-11-2 overall record with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .929 saves percentage. Weslosky previously earned the weekly defensive honor on Feb. 26 (vs MTU).

Also nominated for the award this week were: Jack Hillen, D, CC; Geoff Kinrade, D, MTU; and Alex Stalock, G, UMD.