DENVER - University of Denver senior forward Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was named National Player of the Week by Inside College Hockey (INCH) today after his MVP performance at the 18^th annual Wells Fargo Denver Cup against Nebraska Omaha and Boston College on Jan. 1-2.

Rakhshani was also named co-Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while sophomore defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) was named Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.

Rakhshani was named MVP of the Wells Fargo Denver Cup after recording six points on four goals and two assists for champion Denver. He was also named the first star of both games and logged a +5 rating.

A New York Islanders (NHL) draftee, Rakhshani tallied two goals and one assist with a +4 rating in a 7-0 win over Nebraska Omaha on Jan. 1. He then scored two more goals, including the game-tying goal with 5:16 left and the game-winning assist with 3:15 left, in DU's 4-3 comeback win over Boston College in the title contest on Jan. 2. Rakhshani leads the WCHA with 15 goals, and has five, two-goal games this season.

Wiercioch earned all-tournament team honors while helping the Pioneers limit their two opponents to three total goals and a combined 0-of-7 on the power-play while himself contributing three scoring points, 10 hits and two blocked shots.

In DU's 7-0 shutout win over Nebraska-Omaha, Wiercioch had a goal and an assist and earned a +3 on-ice rating. He then added another assist in the championship game as the Pioneers fought back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Boston College 4-3 and earn the Denver Cup title. In 18 games played so far this season, Wiercioch, and Ottawa Senators (NHL) draftee, has produced three goals, 12 assists and 15 points for No. 2-ranked Denver.

Rakhshani is the second DU player to earn National Player of the Week honors by INCH this season. Goaltender Marc Cheverie (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia) earned the honor after posting back-to-back shutouts at Minnesota on Oct. 23-24. Rakhshani was also named Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Dec. 8.

Denver (13-5-2, 9-3-2 WCHA) hosts Alaska Anchorage (6-12, 4-10 WCHA) in WCHA action on Jan. 8-9 at Magness Arena.