University of Minnesota Athletics
Pannek, Potomak Honored by WCHA
11/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Two Golden Gopher women's hockey players have been honored as WCHA Players of the Month for their play during the month of October. Kelly Pannek is the WCHA Offensive Player of the Month, and Sarah Potomak is the WCHA Rookie of the Month.
WCHA Offensive Player of the Month: Kelly Pannek
Sophomore center Kelly Pannek has at least one point in all 10 of Minnesota's games so far this season, all played during the month of October. She is on a team-best 12-game point streak dating back to the 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four semifinal on March 20, 2015. Pannek had seven multi-point games during the month of October, including three multi-goal games. Pannek has at least one goal in seven of 10 games and at least one assist in eight of 10 games.
Pannek leads the WCHA in several stat categories. On the year, she is .701 (117-50) in the faceoff circle, the highest faceoff winning percentage among WCHA players. Pannek's 10 goals and 1.00 goals per game are tied for the WCHA's best. Pannek's 20 points are tied for second in the WCHA, and her 2.00 points per game are tied for third in the league. Pannek also has two game-winning goals, tied for second-best in the WCHA.
Meanwhile, among all NCAA players, Pannek is tied for fifth with 1.00 goals per game, tied for sixth with 2.00 points per game, and tied for ninth with 1.00 assists per game.
The Plymouth, Minn., native has been an important member of the Gophers' nation-leading power-play unit in the month of October. Minnesota leads the nation at 45.2 percent (14/31) on the power play, and Pannek's seven power-play points lead the WCHA while her three power-play goals are tied for the second-most in both the NCAA and WCHA.
WCHA Rookie of the Month: Sarah Potomak
With at least one point in each of her collegiate games so far, freshman forward Sarah Potomak is currently on an eight-game point streak that includes four multi-point games. She leads the nation's rookies in scoring with 2.38 points per game, which also leads all WCHA players and ranks second among all NCAA players.
Potomak also leads the NCAA with 15 total assists and 1.88 assists per game. She is tied for third in the WCHA at +18 in eight games played. Her 19 points is fifth in the WCHA as well.
The Aldergrove, B.C., native was a two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week honoree during October. She took home the honor after recording six points (2g-4a) in Minnesota's home-opening series sweep over St. Cloud State, which included her first multi-goal game as a Gopher.
Potomak picked up her second-straight WCHA Rookie of the Week award after turning in a career-high eight-point weekend, leading Minnesota with eight assists in the team's road sweep at Ohio State on Oct. 16-17. She recorded four assists in each game, including setting up both game-winners, as the Gophers won 7-2 and 11-2. Potomak was +9 for the series with three shots on goal.
Pannek, Potomak, and the Gophers return to action at Ridder Arena when they host Bemidji State at 7 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 13 and 4 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 14.
###
