University of Minnesota forward Nick Bjugstad, who tallied six scoring points in Mariucci Classic victories over Air Force and top-ranked Boston College last weekend, is the Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for January 3. He also earned the weekly award on Oct. 16 for his efforts against Michigan State.
A 6-6, 220-pound junior from Blaine, Minn., Bjugstad scored two goals and set up four others in the two holiday tournament games at Mariucci Arena, had five shots on goal and earned a +3 plus/minus rating as the Golden Gophers improved to 13-3-3 overall and moved into the No. 1 ranking in this week’s polls.
After earning two assists in a 4-0 triumph over Air Force last Saturday (Dec. 29), he came back with a career-high four points (2g, 2a) in a 8-1 victory over BC on Sunday (Dec. 30) as Minnesota won the Mariucci Classic. He scored the game-opening goal on a power-play at 2:52 of the first period and then had his second of the game at 13:53 to stake UM to a 3-0 lead. For his efforts, Bjugstad was named to the all-tournament team.
A draftee of the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers, Bjugstad ranks second on his team in scoring so far this season, with 10 goals, nine assists and 19 points in 19 games. For his 88-game collegiate career at Minnesota, he has 43 goals, 38 assists and 81 points.
Geoff Discher is Examiner.com's Minnesota Golden Gophers Hockey Examiner as well as the National College Hockey Examiner. Leave a comment below, or feel free to reach him at Disch61@hotmail.com with comments, story ideas, or any general talk surrounding college hockey. You can find him on Facebook as well by clicking here as well as here and joining the conversation from the social media side as well. He's always chock full of fact and opinion. I’m also on Twitter @GophHkyExmnr. Check it out!
Until next time, I'll see you at the rink!
Comments