GRAND FORKS, N.D. – For the second time in as many weeks, North Dakota freshman goalie Zane Gothberg has garnered weekly honors from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).
One week after being named WCHA Rookie of the Week, Gothberg today was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in UND’s road sweep at No. 14 Nebraska Omaha last weekend. The Thief River Falls, Minn., native held the league’s top-scoring offense to just three goals on 65 shots, registering a 1.50 goals against average and a .954 save percentage in the series.
In Friday’s 2-1 win at CenturyLink Center, Gothberg turned aside 33 of 34 shots, including all 14 he faced in the third period. The following evening, he made 29 saves in UND’s 5-2 win at TD Ameritrade Park in the Mutual of Omaha Battles on Ice.
The sweep gave Gothberg a career-best 4-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1), while giving UND sole possession of second place in the WCHA.
Gothberg has started six of UND's last seven games, losing only once (3-1-2) with a 1.96 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. His .778 winning percentage during league play leads the WCHA, and his .926 save percentage ranks third. Gothberg’s overall save percentage of .918 is the third-lowest by a freshman in UND history.
Gothberg is the first UND player this season to receive WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Minnesota State senior forward Eriah Hayes was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while MSU freshman forward Teddy Blueger was the WCHA Rookie of the Week.
UND is idle this week and will return to action Feb. 22-23 at Denver.
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)
Feb. 12: Zane Gothberg (Defensive)
