UND Goalie Gothberg earns weekly WCHA honors

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota freshman goaltender Zane Gothberg has been named Red Baron Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Week for his performance in last weekend’s series against Wisconsin, the league announced today.

Starting both games of a weekend series for the first time in his collegiate career, Gothberg stopped 50 of 52 shots as North Dakota claimed three of four WCHA points from the Badgers. On Friday, the Thief River Falls, Minn., native stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 1-1 overtime tie. He was perfect in the third period and overtime, when UND was outshot 10-4 and 4-0, respectively. On Saturday, Gothberg came within 6 minutes, 30 seconds, of his first career shutout and helped UND end a 5-game winless skid that was the program’s longest in a decade. He finished the night with 21 saves in a 4-1 victory.

For the weekend, Gothberg posted a miniscule 0.96 goals against average with a .962 save percentage and was named the game’s second star both nights.

In nine starts this season, Gothberg is 4-3-2 with a 2.62 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

St. Cloud State senior forward Drew LeBlanc was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while Denver sophomore goalie Juho Olkinuora was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.

UND (14-8-6, 9-5-6 WCHA) visits No. 14 Nebraska Omaha on Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s game will be played outdoors at TD Ameritrade Park, the home of the College World Series, in an outdoor doubleheader billed as the “Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice.”

UND’s WCHA Players of the Week

Nov. 20: Danny Kristo (Offensive)

Dec. 11: Carter Rowney (Offensive)

Dec. 11: Rocco Grimaldi (co-Rookie)

Dec. 18: Corban Knight (Offensive)

Jan. 8: Corban Knight (co-Offensive)

Feb. 5: Zane Gothberg (Rookie)