University of Minnesota Athletics
Kangas Collects WCHA Player of the Week Award
11/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Coming off his first career shutout, Minnesota sophomore goaltender Alex Kangas has been named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Kangas, a Rochester, Minn. native, had 38 saves in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Michigan Tech, marking the most saves by a Minnesota goaltender in a shutout since Robb Stauber stopped 40 shots in a 5-0 win over Colorado College on Feb. 27, 1988. Kangas also had 24 saves in Saturday’s 2-2 tie to finish the weekend with a 0.96 goals against average and .969 save percentage. It was Kangas’ 41st career start and he earned his first shutout after allowing one goal in a game 11 previous times.
Kangas helped the Gophers hold Michigan Tech to 0-for-13 on the power play for the weekend series as he stopped all 23 of the Huskies’ power play shots. He shared the WCHA weekly honor with St. Cloud State goaltender Jase Weslosky, who held Denver to three goals in a weekend sweep. For the season, Kangas owns a 1.84 goals against average and .936 save percentage.
Minnesota is currently the nation’s top-ranked team and one of three remaining undefeated Division I teams with a 6-0-4 record. The Gophers play at Denver on Friday and Saturday in a WCHA series.
