MINNEAPOLIS — After helping the Gophers win the Mariucci Classic last weekend, two members of the University of Minnesota men's hockey team were given weekly honors on Thursday.
Junior forward Nick Bjugstad was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while freshman goalie Adam Wilcox was awarded WCHA Rookie of the Week honors. Bjugstad had six total points in games against Air Force and Boston College this past Saturday and Sunday. Against top-ranked B.C., Bjugstad scored two goals and added two assists as the Gophers beat the Eagles 8-1 at Mariucci Arena.
It's the second time this year that Bjugstad won the award and the first since Oct. 16 after Minnesota's series against Michigan State. He is currently the Gophers' leading goal scorer with 10 and is second in points with 19, behind Erik Haula's 26.
Wilcox was instrumental in helping Minnesota win both games this past weekend. The freshman from South St. Paul notched his third shutout of the year in Saturday's 4-0 win over visiting Air Force. He stopped all 18 shots he faced in that game. One day later, Wilcox made a career-high 32 saves to slow down No. 1 Boston College in the Gophers' 8-1 win.
After starting the season as part of a platoon at goalie, Wilcox has asserted himself as Minnesota's No. 1 netminder. Thursday's Rookie of the Week award is his second. He also won it on Nov. 13 after a weekend series against Alaska-Anchorage. Wilcox is now 12-2-3 with a .927 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average.
Bjugstad, Wilcox and the top-ranked Gophers have a one-game series against Notre Dame on Tuesday at Mariucci Arena before hosting Alaska-Anchorage later that weekend.
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