Two Pioneers Named WCHA Players of the Week

MADISON, Wis. - University of Denver center iceman Paul Stastny, who led all conference players with six scoring points in a two-game sweep over visiting Minnesota State this past weekend, has been named Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.
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A 6-0, 210-pound sophomore from St. Louis, Mo., Stastny scored three goals, including a game-winner, and set up three others as the two-time defending national champion Pioneers stretched their winning streak to seven games and moved into sole possession of first place in the WCHA race.
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In a 7-4 Denver victory at Magness Arena last Friday (Feb. 10), Stastny scored two goals and assisted on two others for four points. One of his assists came on teammate Gabe Gauthier's second period game-winner. Then last Saturday, Stastny came back to score the game-winning goal and added another assist as the Pioneers registered a 5-1 win over the Mavericks. In addition to his six points, Stastny also fired seven shots on goal and earned a +2 plus-minus rating.
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On the season, the Colorado (NHL) Avalanche draftee ranks second on his team in scoring with 11 goals, 29 assists and 40 points in 30 games and is fourth overall among WCHA players.
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Matt Carle, a defenseman and team captain at the University of Denver, has been named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week as a result of his outstanding two-way play in a pair of home-ice conference victories over Minnesota State this past weekend. This marks the third defensive player of the week award for Carle this season (also on Dec. 5 and Dec. 19).
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A 6-0, 195-pound junior from Anchorage, Alaska, Carle netted six assists, earned a +3 plus-minus rating, blocked six shots, and had six hits in the two-game series as Denver (18-10-2) limited MSU to 44 total shots on goal and two power-play goals in 15 opportunities.
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In a 7-4 victory over the Mavericks last Friday at Magness Arena, Carle turned in a WCHA season-high five assists, including one on teammate Gabe Gauthier's second period game-winner. The San Jose Sharks (NHL) draftee then came back on Saturday evening to draw his sixth assist of the weekend, this time on teammate Paul Stastny's eventual first period game-winner.
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Aiming to become only the third defenseman in the 54-year history of the WCHA to win the conference scoring race (based on league games), Carle currently tops the conference with nine goals, 29 assists and 38 points in 22 games. Overall, he also leads the league with 11-35-46 in 30 games. Minnesota's Lou Nanne was the first blueliner to top the league in scoring with 9-23-32 in 1962-63 while UM's Mike Crowley (5-37-42) shared the 1996-97 title with Colorado College forward Brian Swanson.

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