University of Minnesota Athletics

Phil Kessel Named WCHA Co-Rookie of the Week

2/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey

University of Minnesota freshman center Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) has been named the WCHA Co-Rookie of the Week, following top-ranked Minnesota’s sweep last weekend over then-No. 7 Denver. Kessel led all players with four points (0-4--4) in the Golden Gophers’ 3-2 and 5-1 wins over the Pioneers. He shares this week’s award with Minnesota State goaltender Mike Zacharias.

In Friday’s 3-2 win, Kessel assisted on Ryan Potulny’s game-winning power- play goal in the third period. He followed that up with a three-assist night in the 5-1 win over DU on Saturday. He assisted on UM’s second (the game-winner by Ben Gordon in the first period), third and fifth goals. The game was his fourth three-point contest of the season. The nation’s leading rookie scorer now owns totals of 13-25--38 to rank second on the team in scoring. Kessel is tied for first on the team in assists. He now has a point in 22 of 30 games this season and an assist in 14 contests. Minnesota is 15-2-5 when he records a point. Kessel is currently riding a four-game point streak (3-4--7).

The award is the third Rookie of the Week accolade for Kessel.

Top-ranked and league-leading Minnesota (21-6-5, 16-5-3 WCHA) wraps up its road schedule this weekend with a WCHA series at unranked Alaska Anchorage (6-23-3, 4-19 -3) on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25, in Anchorage, Alaska. Both games begin at 10:07 p.m. (Central) and will be broadcast on WCCO 830 AM. Neither contest will be televised locally.

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