Feb. 13, 2006
MADISON, Wis. - University of Denver center Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo.) and All-American defenseman Matt Carle (Anchorage, Alaska) were named Red Baron WCHA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for Feb. 13-19, it was announced today. Stastny (3-3--6) and Carle (0-6--6) led all conference players with six scoring points each in DU's two-game sweep over visiting 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).
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. In the 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 (Buena Park, Calif.) 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. On the season, the Colorado (NHL) Avalanche draftee ranks fourth overall among WCHA players with 11 goals, 29 assists and 40 points in 30 games.
Carle netted six assists, earned a +3 plus-minus rating, blocked six shots, and had six hits in the two-game series as Denver limited MSU to 44 total shots on goal and two power-play goals in 15 opportunities. Carle turned in a career-high five assists, including one on Gauthier's second period game-winner, in the 7-4 win. The San Jose Sharks (NHL) draftee added his sixth assist of the weekend on Stastny's eventual first period game-winner in the 5-1 win.
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.
No. 7 Denver (18-10-2, 15-5-2 WCHA) travels to No. 1 Minnesota (19-6-5, 14-5-3 WCHA) for a pivotal two-game series this weekend. The games will be televised live on FSN-Rocky Mountain and FSN-North and broadcast live on KKFN AM 950 "The Fan" and DenverPioneers.com.
