WCHA Players of the Week
January 18, 1998
WCHA Offensive Player of the Week
Riley Nelson/C/MTU
Michigan Tech University center iceman Riley Nelson, who factored in
five of the Huskies' eight goals in a pair of 4-2 conference victories
over visiting St. Cloud State last weekend, has been selected as the
WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for January 18.
A 5-9, 170-pound junior from Cranbrook, British Columbia, Nelson had
his most productive series of the 1998-99 season, helping Michigan
Tech record their second sweep of the season over SCSU and move from
eighth to sixth place in the WCHA race.
Last Saturday (Jan. 16) evening at MacInnes Student Ice Arena in
Houghton, Nelson scored a power-play goal in the third period after
setting up both of Tech's first period goals in a 4-2 win. That effort
followed his two-assist effort in last Friday's (Jan. 15) 4-2 triumph,
giving him five points in the series.
In 20 games this season, Nelson is tied for fifth in scoring on the
Michigan Tech hockey club with three goals, seven assists and 10
points.
Other nominees for the WCHA's offensive player of the week award were:
Jon Austin, F, Colorado College; Paul Comrie, C, Denver; and Trevor
Hammer, D, North Dakota.
WCHA Defensive
Player of the Week Trevor Hammer/D/UND
University of North Dakota defenseman Trevor Hammer, who helped key a
strong defensive effort in a two-game sweep at Colorado College last
weekend, has been honored as the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for
January 18.
A 6-0, 180-pound sophomore from Roseau, Minn., Hammer was a factor at
both ends of the ice for the #1-ranked Fighting Sioux, who used the
5-4 and 5-1 wins over the second place Tigers to move their record to
17-2-1 and open up a five-point lead in the race for the league
championship.
Hammer earned a +4 plus/minus rating overall in the series and was a
member of the UND penalty-killing units that held the Tigers to just
one goal in eight man-advantage opportunities.
In addition to his defensive effort, he contributed three scoring
points in the series - scoring a goal each night and setting up the
third period game-winner in a come-from-behind win last Friday (Jan.
15).
Also nominated for the league's weekly defensive honor were: Gregg
Naumenko, G, Alaska Anchorage; Paul Manning, D, Colorado College; Ryan
Hacker, D, Denver; and David Weninger, G, Michigan Tech.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Steve Cygan/C/UAA
University of Alaska Anchorage freshman center Steve Cygan, who played
an instrumental role in the Seawolves' first-ever two-game series
sweep over Wisconsin last weekend, has been honored as the WCHA Rookie
of the Week for January 18.
A 5-6, 160-pounder from Spring Grove, Illinois, Cygan banged home his
team-leading fifth game-winning goal at 9:56 of the third period last
Saturday (Jan. 16) night at Sullivan Arena to boost the Seawolves to a
2-1 win over the Badgers.
Cygan, who is second on his team in scoring through 22 games with
eight goals, five assists and 13 points, is one of the top scoring
rookies in the WCHA this season and is tied for the lead among
conference players in game-winning goals with five.
In addition to his big goal last Saturday, Cygan also drew an assist
on the Seawolves' first tally last Friday (Jan. 15) in their 3-1
victory over Wisconsin in the series opener.
Cygan and his UAA teammates, who have moved into third place in the
WCHA, sport a 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games and are 11-9-2
overall.
Other nominees for this week's rookie of the week award were: Mark
Cullen, F, Colorado College; Erik Adams, D, Denver; Paul Cabana, F,
Michigan Tech; and Aaron Schneekloth, D, North Dakota.
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