Geoffrion, McDonagh Earn WCHA Recognition
December 04, 2007 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin sophomore forward Blake Geoffrion and freshman defenseman Ryan McDonagh have been recognized by the WCHA for their help in the Badgers' sweep over St. Cloud State last weekend. Geoffrion has been named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, while McDonagh is the WCHA Rookie of the Week.
Geoffrion produced four scoring points as an offensive catalyst in the Badgers' two-game conference sweep. A 6-2, 195-pound sophomore from Brentwood, Tenn., Geoffrion led the Badgers with one goal and three assists, fired eight shots on goal and earned a +3 plus-minus rating in the back-to-back, come-from-behind victories.
In a 3-2 victory at the Kohl Center last Friday (Nov. 30) night, the Nashville Predators ' (NHL) draftee scored a game-tying goal at 4:15 of the third period that knotted the score at 2-2. He then came back last Saturday (Dec. 1) evening to set up three of Wisconsin's four goals as the Badgers overcame a 3-2 third period defict to win 4-3. One of his three assists came on teammate Josh Engel's game-winning goal at 17:32 of the final period.
Geoffrion, who ranks third in team scoring so far this season with six goals, eight assists and 14 points in 14 games, is the grandson of Hockey Hall of Famer Bernie `Boom Boom' Geoffrion, who won six Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and is credited with popularizing the slap shot, and the great grandson of Canadiens' great Howie Morenz, another member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Also nominated this week were: Jimmy Kilpatrick, F, CC; Mike Howe, F, UM; Mick Berge, F, MSU; and Ryan Duncan, F, UND.
McDonagh's strong play at both ends of the ice helped him win this week's rookie of the week nod. A 6-1, 203-pound freshman from Arden Hills, Minn., McDonagh earned a +4 plus-minus on-ice rating, collected two assists and fired four shots on goal in the series against St. Cloud State. He had assists on both the game-tying and game-winning goals last Friday night at the Kohl Center and the only time St. Cloud State scored all weekend with McDonagh on the ice came during a Huskies' power-play.
On the 2007-08 season, McDonagh, a first round NHL Draft pick (12th overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, leads Wisconsin in plus-minus at +8 and is one point out of the team scoring lead among defensemen with three goals and five assists for eight points while playing in all 14 UW games.
Also nominated this week were: Richard Bachman, G, CC; Tyler Bozak, F, DU; and Rylan Galiardi, F, MSU.
